6 MAY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
1507

Pornography: Men Possessing Women by Andrea Dworkin, is published in hardback and paperback. Although the American paperback was before the Tribunal for classification it also had in its hands, a hardback copy published in Canada by Academic Press Limited, Toronto, and a paperback published by the Women’s Press Limited, 124 Shoreditch High Street, London. Each book is 304 pages in length. The author describes herself as a radical feminist, and this term in itself gives a clue to the tone of the book under consideration, and to the subject-matter which it covers. Andrea Dworkin makes no pretence whatsoever that she is writing to support the feminist viewpoint, a position which must be taken seriously. Pornography is a most difficult book on which to give a decision, for there is no doubt that it is completely serious in its content.

Even the bibliography which the author has included covers 47 pages, and in addition to this, she has listed many notes and references to authenticate the publication. A number of reviews have been written about this publication, and about the author’s earlier books, for Andrea Dworkin has written at least four serious works. Times Literary Supplement and the New Yorker have treated her works as being a genuine expression of the feminist viewpoint. It would be fair to say that the author’s publications will be found on the shelves of university and public libraries, both in New Zealand and overseas, as a result of the reviews her book has attracted.

The problem facing the Tribunal is to first accept the publication as being authentic, in fact, a serious study of pornography, and to then have regard for the unusual and perverted sex acts which are graphically described. To quote Mr Leloir of the Customs Department—“Part of the book is taken up with discussion of pornography with the balance having numerous lengthy extracts from other publications. These extracts explicitly describe perverted sex acts”.

The Tribunal is very grateful for Miss Moran for her very full submissions in respect of this work. I think it is fair to comment that those who have read this book have found it most difficult to read. It is fair to say that much of the material she has included has been presented more to prove her point rather than to extract conclusions from the evidence.

Some arguments are hard to follow, and at times she degenerates into a fanatical harangue rather than using her obvious talents as a writer to present a reasoned argument. The reviews have not always been kind to her, but they did say that Dworkin was an aggressive writer, who took a simplistic view of the role of the male whom she saw as a person who had an evil thirst for violence and domination in his sexual drive. She assumes that pornography and all its related, or imagined, problems to be on the same level as real life. She concludes that women will be free only when pornography has been abolished, but makes no suggestion as to how this is to be accomplished.

Many sections of the book may offend but there seems little doubt that the author has attempted to represent the feminist viewpoint, even if the presentation is radical and to many unacceptable. The work has merit as a serious study, especially for researchers in the field of women’s studies, and for this reason is therefore classified as being not indecent.

District Court Judge WILLIS, Chairman.

The Water Recreation (Kauaeranga River) Notice 1982

I, Robin Paul Taylor, Senior Executive Officer (Harbours and Foreshores), pursuant to the Water Recreation Regulations 1979*, and in exercise of the powers delegated to me pursuant to sections 8 and 9 of the Ministry of Transport Act 1968, hereby give the following notice:

NOTICE

1. (a) This notice may be cited as the Water Recreation (Kauaeranga River) Notice 1982.
   (b) This notice shall come into force 14 days after publication in the New Zealand Gazette and shall remain in force until revoked by further notice in the Gazette.

2. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Second Schedule hereto, regulations 7 (1) (a), 7 (1) (b) and 7 (2) of the Water Recreation Regulations shall not apply to those areas as specified in the First Schedule.

FIRST SCHEDULE

All that area of water of the Kauaeranga River commencing at the point 37° 9.6' S, 175° 33.9' E, thence upstream to the confluence of the Kauaeranga and Mangarehu Rivers, as more particularly shown marked green on Plan M.D. 16113, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington.

SECOND SCHEDULE

1. All persons wishing to enter those portions of the Kauaeranga River which are within State forests shall first obtain the written consent of the Conservator of Forests, or other lawful authority for the area concerned.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this notice, no person who is permitted by any such provision to propel or navigate a small craft at a speed through the water exceeding 5 knots shall do so in any manner that is likely to endanger or unduly annoy any person who is, in, on, or using the waters, or fishing, or undertaking any recreational activity in the vicinity of the small craft.

3. All persons in charge of a vessel shall adhere to and keep the provisions of all Acts and regulations not specifically exempted by this notice.

4. A suitable notice as may be approved by the Regional Marine Officer, Ministry of Transport, Auckland, shall be erected at the sites deemed necessary by the Regional Marine Officer.

Dated at Wellington this 3rd day of May 1982.

R. P. TAYLOR,
Senior Executive Officer (Harbours and Foreshores).

*(M.O.T. H.O. 43/152/10; N.R. 54/47/3)

The Water Recreation (Southland Rivers) Notice 1982

I, Robin Paul Taylor, Senior Executive Officer (Harbours and Foreshores), pursuant to the Water Recreation Regulations 1979*, and in exercise of powers delegated to me pursuant to sections 8 and 9 of the Ministry of Transport Act 1968, hereby give the following notice:

NOTICE

1. (a) This notice may be cited as the Water Recreation (Southland Rivers) Notice 1982.
   (b) This notice shall come into force after its publication in the New Zealand Gazette and shall remain in force until revoked by further notice in the Gazette.

2. Subject to the conditions set forth in the Second Schedule hereto, regulations 7 (1) (a) and (b), and 7 (2) of the Water Recreation Regulations 1979, shall not apply to the waters specified in the First Schedule hereto and for the periods so specified in the First Schedule hereto.

3. Notice is hereby given that the Water Recreation (Southland Rivers) Notice 1980† is hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE

1. For the period of 1 August to 30 September, inclusive of each year, all the waters of the Mataura River from the Ardlussa Bridge down stream to the seaward down bridge as shown coloured red on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington.

2. Firstly, for the period of 1 August to 30 September, inclusive of each year, all the waters of the Oreti River from the State Highway 99 Bridge near Lumsden, down stream to the bridge at Winton, as shown coloured green on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington. Secondly, for the period of 1 October of any year to 31 July of the following year, all that area of water in the Oreti River from the road bridge at Dipton down stream to the road bridge at Winton, as shown coloured green on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington.

3. Firstly, for the period of 1 August to 30 September, inclusive of each year, all the waters of the Aparima River from the Jacobs River Bridge down stream to the Thornbury Bridge and also all the waters of the Pourakino River from its source to the mouth of that river at the Jacobs River estuary, being an inner harbour limit of Riverton Harbour, as shown coloured red on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington. Secondly, for the period of 1 October of any year to 15 April of the following year, all the waters of the Pourakino River from its source to the mouth of the river at the Jacobs River estuary, being an inner harbour limit of Riverton Harbour, as shown coloured green on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington.

4. Firstly, for the period of 1 August to 30 September, inclusive of each year, and when the Mararoa Weir is spilling, all the waters of Waiua River from the Mararoa Weir to the sea, as shown coloured red on Plan M.D. 16032, deposited in the office of the Ministry of Transport at Wellington. Secondly,