23 FEBRUARY
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
499

Members: H. B. Dick, L. P. Nikera, J. V. B. McLinden, I. W. Malcolm.

Hearing at Wellington on the 13th day of December 1983.

Appearances: No appearance of importer, Mr A. Louis, Wellington. C. Hill for Comptroller of Customs.

DECISION

THESE publications were imported through Wellington in October 1982 and were seized. Unfortunately the publications were not reported to the Tribunal until October 1983. Forfeiture has been disputed by the importer before the commencement of condemnation proceedings.

Soho Studios is published apparently somewhere in North America. There is no text as the publication consists entirely of photographs of 2 models. In some photographs genitalia is exposed and in others clearly homosexual acts are portrayed. The publication has no literary merit, is patently offensive and is oriented towards the promotion of homosexual behaviour between males. It has some resemblance to Men Loving Themselves classified as indecent in Decision 1071. It is classified as indecent.

The Le Salon is an 8 page booklet advertising a range of vibrators, homosexual magazines, sex aids and genital restraints. A similar publication The Beat was considered in Decision 1061 and was classified as indecent. For the reasons given in that decision this publication warrants a similar classification.

Coming with the Le Salon catalogue were 9 advertising pamphlets. These pamphlets are not dissimilar to others considered earlier (Decisions 1035, 1039 and 1065) and for reasons there given we consider these pamphlets should also be classified as indecent.

Dated at Wellington this 10th day of February 1984.

W. M. WILLIS, Chairman.

Decision No. 4/84
(Ref. No. IND. 28/83)

Before 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 decision in respect of the following publication:

The Secret Fire, Grove Press Inc. U.S.A.

Chairman: District Court Judge Willis.

Members: H. B. Dick, L. P. Nikera, J. V. B. McLinden, I. W. Malcolm.

Hearing at Wellington on the 13th day of December 1983.

Appearances: No appearance of importer, Pilgrims South Press, Dunedin. Mr C. Hillman for Comptroller of Customs.

DECISION

THIS publication was commercially imported through Dunedin and seized in August 1983. Forfeiture has been disputed so that the publication has been referred for classification prior to the commencement of condemnation proceedings.

The Secret Fire is written by Rosemarie Santini and is subtitled How Women Live their Sexual Fantasies. It is produced by Crown Press Inc. of New York. It bears a faint resemblance to the Hite Report on Female Sexuality with this difference. Whereas the Hite Report appears to have been the result of some proper research, the Tribunal gains the impression that such is not the case with this publication. However, it is not without literary style and in the main the description of the sexual activities is not graphic. It is not dissimilar to Men In Love which received a restricted classification in May last year (Decision 1063). Mr Hillman drew our attention to Decision 873 of July 1976 (My Secret Garden) where that book was held to be not indecent. In our view this book requires an age restriction so that it is classified indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18.

Dated at Wellington this 10th day of February 1984.

W. M. WILLIS, Chairman.

Decision No. 5/84
(Reference No. IND. 24/83)

Before 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 decision in respect of the following publication:

Dirty Movies, Chelsea House, Publishers, New York, U.S.A.

Chairman: District Court Judge Willis.

Members: H. B. Dick, L. P. Nikera, J. V. B. McLinden, I. W. Malcolm.

Hearing at Wellington on the 13th day of December 1983.

Appearances: No appearance of importer, Waverley Publishing Co: Mr C. Hillman for Comptroller of Customs.

DECISION

DIRTY MOVIES is an illustrated history of the Stag film 1915–1970. It was published in 1976 and was commercially imported through Auckland Parcels Post in July 1983. The importer disputes forfeiture so that it is before the Tribunal for classification prior to condemnation proceedings commencing.

The book contains 160 pages of text and photographs. The text includes the introductory essay by Kenneth Tynan entitled, “In Praise of Hard Core”. The book is hard backed and in addition to the text there are sepia coloured photographs taking clips from various movies produced mostly for male audience and which could be classified as “Blue Movies”. It was submitted by Mr Hillman that the publication can be considered similar in format to 100 Years of Erotica. This is classified as indecent in the hands of persons under 18 years of age in Decision 1060 of April 1983. It was suggested that because of the content the publication could be considered as indecent. The presentation is indeed similar in most respects to 100 Years of Erotica as it contains frank and explicit photographs showing the actual sexual act. However, the Tribunal views this publication in much the same way as for the previous decision recognising the pornographic content but also realising that there is an expert segment of society which should if it wishes have access to the book—film critics, film society members, photographers. The Tribunal therefore has decided to place an age restriction on the publication rather than to rule it as unconditionally indecent. It is classified as indecent in the hands of persons under the age of 18.

Dated at Wellington this 14th day of February 1984.

W. M. WILLIS, Chairman.

Decision No. 6/84
(Reference No. IND 32/83)

Before 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 decision in respect of the following publications:

Busen Exclusiv, Nos 11, 13, 19.

Superstar, Vol. 2, No. 13; Vol. 3, Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Jetset Girls, Vol. 2, No. 6.

Sunset Girls, Vol. 1, No. 12; Vol. 2, Nos 1, 2, Buch-und Presse-Vertrieb, West Germany.

Crazy Times, Nos 15, 17, 19.

Kess, Vol. 2, No. 3.

Kiss, Vol. 2, Nos 13, 14; Vol. 3, Nos 14, 16, 18.

Miriam, Vol. 1, No. 10.

Clou, Vol. 3, Nos. 12, 13, Akire-Verlag, West Germany.

Christina’s Secret, Berkley Books, U.S.A.

Ecstasy, Book One: Womens Sexual Fantasies, Playboy Press, U.S.A.

Exotic Boots and Shoes, Centurian Publications, California, U.S.A.

The Ecstasy of Sex: The Complete Guide to Sex in Marriage.

The Lesbian Book of Love.

Adventures in Oral Sex.

The Marriage Bed.

The Photomanual of Group Sex.

Sexual Variations, Probe Publications, U.K.

Chairman: District Court Judge Willis.

Members: H. B. Dick, L. P. Nikera, J. V. B. McLinden, I. W. Malcolm.

Hearing at Wellington on the 13th day of December 1983.

Appearances: Written submissions for importer, Waverley International Limited. C. Hillman for Comptroller of Customs.