Four Magazines Held Indecent (Press, 11 March 1965)

On 11 March 1965, the Indecent Publications Tribunal in Wellington banned four magazines for promoting homosexuality, which was considered a criminal offence in New Zealand at the time. The magazines affected were "Physique Pictorial," "Modern Adonis," "Male Classics," and "Male Classics Annual." The tribunal asserted that these publications were designed to attract or encourage homosexual behaviour, leading them to be deemed indecent under the relevant statute. The action arose after the Comptroller of Customs had detained copies of these magazines, consigning them to a Wellington bookshop, and initiated legal proceedings to determine their indecency under the Customs Act. Evidence presented to the tribunal indicated that the magazines featured male poses, letterpress, and advertisements intended to attract homosexual individuals. There were also claims that the magazines were frequently found in the possession of known homosexuals and had been used to entice younger men into homosexual activities. The tribunal noted that most customers for the magazines were males aged between 25 and 55, who had not previously been involved in legal issues. Despite the bookshop owner asserting ignorance of the magazines' character and stating that none of his staff had raised any concerns, the tribunal concluded that four of the five magazines did not conform to societal standards of decency. In a contrasting ruling, the tribunal approved another publication, "Tomorrow’s Man," which it deemed primarily focused on body building and did not exhibit characteristics similar to the banned magazines. The tribunal also stated that their decision would apply to future issues of the four banned magazines unless significant modifications were made to their content. In addition to these rulings, the tribunal reviewed Mickey Spillane’s novel "The Snake," which had been referred to them by the importer with the Minister of Justice's consent. They concluded that it was not indecent, characterising it as a light-weight thriller filled with action, fighting, and some sexual content. The tribunal maintained that while some incidents in the book were improbable, it adhered to ordinary standards of decency and would not deprave readers or harm public welfare.

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