23 AUGUST
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1617

No. 708
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd. for a decision in respect of the book What Rugby Jokes Did Next, published by Sphere Books Ltd., London.

There was no appearance of the applicant. Accordingly no submissions were made.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THESE collections of limericks and anecdotes are largely puerile and harmless and no doubt would be acceptable and purveyed in rugby clubrooms and smoke concerts.

However, there is language and references to sexual matters which we do not believe should be readily available to younger persons. Accordingly, taking into consideration the matters referred to in section 11 of the Act, the Tribunal classifies this book as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 709
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd. for a decision in respect of the book Little Dog’s Day, by Jack Trevor Story, published by Sphere Books Ltd., London.

There was no appearance of the applicant. Accordingly no submissions were made.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS is a novel about a gentleman called Arthur (known as “Art”). Henry who had a heart attack, was given up for dead, and recovered—much to the consternation of his wife, family, friends, and employers. The story is not without humour.

The book does not offend against any of the provisions of the Act.

The Tribunal classifies this book as not indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 710–717
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by Jack James Neill, Gladesville, N.S.W., Australia, publisher, for a decision in respect of the magazines Fury, Vol. 1 No. 2, 3, 6, and 7, published by Fury Magazine Pty. Ltd., Australia, and Flame, Vol. 1 No. 1, 4, 6, and 10, published by Flame Magazine Pty. Ltd., Australia.

Mr Neill, the applicant, appeared and made submissions.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THESE Australian magazines present sexual behaviour in an aggressive, sensational manner. The articles, illustrations, and advertisements cater for an interest in vicarious sexual experience in a way that offends against the standards of decency which the Tribunal must apply. There is little else in the magazines and it is overshadowed by an unhealthy attitude towards sex.

The Tribunal classifies these issues of these magazines as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 718
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs for a decision in respect of the magazine Curious, No. 1, published by Kingsland Lott Publishing Co. Ltd., London.

Mr Bathgate appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions. There was no appearance of the publisher’s representative in New Zealand.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS magazine is said to contain highlights of the first three issues of a sex education magazine and to be issued as a connoisseur’s collection. The Tribunal has had many publications in this field to consider and, in each case, has sought to balance genuine informative usefulness against any appeal, through the explicitness and tone of the presentation, to unwholesome preoccupation with sex.

There is a mixture of material in this magazine, but the emphasis given in it to illustrations which go well beyond any requirements of the informative content of the text, and the presence of a cheap narrative of a couple’s lovemaking accompanied by a sequence of photos with a striptease appeal, undermine any claim it has as an educational publication with honesty of purpose. The magazine seems to be primarily concerned with exploiting interest in sex and, taken as a whole, is indecent.

The Tribunal classifies this magazine as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 719
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs for a decision in respect of the book The Love Pagoda, anonymous, published by Brandon Books, California.

Mr Fligg appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions. There was no appearance on behalf of the publisher’s representative in New Zealand.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

THIS account of the amorous adventures of Hsi Men and his six wives is introduced as portions of a famous erotic Chinese novel. It is told in a quaint and laboured style, and those who persist to the end will find a cautionary moral inscribed as the heroic Hsi Men expires: “Valued Reader, even lechery has its limits, and the store of virility is not inexhaustible.” The recital is so full in its description of sexual encounters that restriction of the book to adult readers is required.

The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18 years.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 720
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of an application by the Comptroller of Customs for a decision in respect of the book A Place in Hell by H. R. Kaye, published by Holloway House Publishing Co., California.

Mr Bathgate appeared on behalf of the applicant and made submissions. A written submission was received from the Waverley Publishing Co.

DECISION OF THE TRIBUNAL

It was submitted that this book, described on its title page as the autobiography of a one-time Hell’s Angel rebel, was of similar quality to others dealing with the world of motorcycle gangs which the Tribunal had given restricted circulation. Careful scrutiny, however, shows this book to be lacking in any sustained sociological or other serious interest in the material presented. The sensational sex, violence, and crime of the gang are offered in tones of excited pleasure and the treatment of the gang’s victims is likewise devoid of any restraint or humanity.

The Tribunal classifies this book as indecent.

R. S. V. SIMPSON, Chairman.

13 August 1973.

No. 721
Decision of the Indecent Publications Tribunal

IN the matter of the Indecent Publications Act 1963, and in the matter of a reference to the Tribunal under section 12 (1) of the said Act by the Magistrate’s Court at North Shore for a decision and report in terms of the said section in respect of the book Hello Sex by Anders and Gunilla Jorgens, published by King Road Publishing Ltd., London.