Rulings On 19 Books; Five To Be Banned (Press, 13 November 1968)

On 12 November 1968, the Indecent Publications Tribunal in Wellington made significant rulings regarding several books and a magazine. The chairman, Mr L. G. H. Sinclair, S.M., announced that five books were declared indecent, eight were found indecent in the hands of individuals under 18, and five books along with one magazine were deemed not indecent. The books ruled indecent were “The Memoirs of a Paris Madame” by the Marquis de Sade (translated by P. J. Gillette), “The Young Temptress” by Stephen Harding, “Smalltown Sex Today” by Victor J. Banis, “Hollywood’s Sexual Underground” by Roger Jordan, all published by Medico Books, Los Angeles, and “Lesbianism and the Single Girl” by Roger Blake. Eight books ruled indecent in the hands of persons under 18 included titles such as “Twilight Women Around the World” by R. Leighton Hasselrodt and several works by Dr Walter Braun, among others. “My Secret Life” by an unknown author was found indecent, except for those over 18 involved in relevant professional or academic studies. The tribunal also assessed books deemed not indecent, including “Querelle of Brest” by Jean Genet, “Myra Breckenridge” by Gore Vidal, and “Satyricon: Memoirs of a Lusty Roman” by Titus Petronius Arbiter. Mr Sinclair argued that “Myra Breckenridge” was a sophisticated satire of contemporary culture, noting its comedic elements rather than prurient content. In discussing “Querelle of Brest,” he praised its unflinching honesty and artistic integrity. “Satyricon” was defended based on its classical status and its moral tone, and Sinclair remarked that the book maintained a degree of responsibility by the editor. The chairman critiqued the promotional strategies of some titles, suggesting that misleading covers did a disservice to their actual content. Notably, he described “Oriental Love in Action” as a readable story that did not warrant its promotional style and said that “Secret Techniques of Erotic Delight” contained helpful advice for achieving satisfying sexual relationships, despite its misleading title. Overall, Mr Sinclair concluded that the evaluated works varied significantly in merit, intent, and effect, leading to the tribunal's diverse classifications regarding indecency. The discussion revealed ongoing tensions in societal perceptions of sexual content and literature amid changing cultural values in New Zealand.

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