Book Ruled Not Indecent (Press, 25 June 1971)
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Summary: Book Ruled Not Indecent (Press, 25 June 1971)
On 24 June 1971, the Indecent Publications Tribunal in Wellington ruled that the book "Affairs" by John London is not indecent. The book, a paperback available for 80 cents in New Zealand, was the subject of a challenge by Miss Patricia Bartlett, who highlighted specific passages she deemed inappropriate. However, the tribunal evaluated the overall content of the book, concluding that it primarily deals with a man's passionate relationships with five women rather than exploiting sexual themes for perverse or cruel purposes. The tribunal noted that while the sexual behaviour described in the book was explicit, it was not presented in a way meant to exploit or degrade. In a separate case, the tribunal ruled on the anonymously authored book "Her," published by Lyle Stuart Incorporated in New York. A majority of the tribunal members found the book to be indecent for readers under the age of 18, with objections rooted in its trivial depiction of sex without artistic merit. Member S. F. W. Johnston expressed concern that the book offered a debased view of sexual relations that did not contribute to any meaningful discussion or artistic expression. The chairman, Mr R. S. V. Simpson, dissented but acknowledged similar concerns, while other members suggested that while the book should not be classified as wholly indecent, it contained content that could disturb younger readers. Lastly, the tribunal classified "The Tour" by Aldo Lucchesi as indecent for those under 18, emphasizing that its appeal to youthful curiosity was inappropriate and justified restrictions on its circulation. Additionally, the tribunal postponed its decision on two more books, "I am a Beautiful Stranger" by Roselyn Drexter and "The Libertine" by Jacopo Massimo, as there was no representative counsel present for the publishers.
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