Censorship ‘sensible’ (Press, 28 August 1970)

On 27 August 1970, Professor J. C. Reid, an English professor at Auckland University, spoke at a literary luncheon during the Tauranga Festival of Music and Arts, expressing his views on New Zealand's censorship system. He described it as one of the most liberal and sensible in the world and advocated for its maintenance, arguing against any moves towards a more liberal approach or a retreat to past restrictions. Professor Reid was particularly critical of a petition presented to Parliament by Miss Patricia Bartlett, which he believed could represent a regressive step in censorship. He asserted that the petition leaned towards a form of Victorianism that was outdated and inappropriate for contemporary society. He commended the work of the Indecent Publications Tribunal and the Film Censor but acknowledged certain weaknesses within the book censorship system. He noted that many objectionable books were often sold before they could be assessed by the Tribunal, and he suggested that the enforcement of Tribunal decisions could be improved. He challenged the notion that writers should have unrestricted freedom in their expressions, arguing that they could already utilise existing channels to convey their ideas without needing absolute freedom. He dismissed the idea that the recent freedom to include explicit language and content had enhanced literature, citing D. H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover" as an example of a work he considered poor relative to the author's other literature. Professor Reid asserted that writers could convey a range of emotions effectively while adhering to certain guidelines and that removing restraints had not historically led to superior literary outcomes. Additionally, he addressed what he termed the "myth of Danish pornography," referring to the assumption that the market for pornography had diminished following the removal of censorship in Denmark, where he had taught for four months in 1968. He indicated that early oversaturation had created an initial surge in supply, followed by a decline to a steady state of pornography sales. He concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support claims regarding the impact of sexual freedom in literature, noting that various official investigations into the subject had yielded contradictory results.

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