"free Society Must Stay Open To World Trends” (Press, 14 October 1971)

On 14 October 1971, the New Zealand Press reported on a meeting of the Parliamentary Petitions Committee in Wellington, which assessed four petitions requesting changes to the sale and display regulations of what were deemed indecent publications. The petitions, led by Miss Patricia Bartlett and supported by over 13,000 signatures, aimed to modify the Indecent Publications Act to restrict access to certain books, magazines, and sound recordings for young people. They proposed that any material assessed by the Indecent Publications Tribunal should not be available for sale until the tribunal reached a decision. The Justice Department, represented by Secretary for Justice Mr E. A. Misson, argued against creating a "cultural Iron Curtain" that would isolate New Zealand from global trends in literature and culture. They expressed concerns that implementing such restrictions would undermine New Zealand's identity as a free society and noted that prevailing community standards had evolved since previous generations. During the discussions, Mr G. J. Cameron from the Justice Department highlighted the complexities arising from the proposed limitations. He pointed out that enforcing such restrictions would require booksellers to hide not only prohibited books but also those that had received commendation from the tribunal. He noted that the classification system would lose its value if certain undesirable publications could be publicly displayed without consequence, while works deemed acceptable might have to be obscured from view. The department also raised legal principles at stake, such as the presumption of innocence, which maintains that no publication should be deemed inappropriate without evidence of its indecency. Additionally, they noted the long-standing principle of no precensorship, except for films in special circumstances. The potential legal ramifications of adopting the petitioners' suggestions were significant enough that the department acknowledged they would have to exercise greater caution in referencing publications to the tribunal if these changes were enacted. The Booksellers’ Association, whose president Mr G. Tait spoke during the hearings, asserted that their members already refrained from selling restricted books to minors and were conscious of their dual responsibilities towards both adult and youthful customers. Tait pointed out that no members had faced legal repercussions for selling restricted books, and he stressed that the petitions unfairly implied unscrupulousness among booksellers regarding sales practices. The debate highlighted differing views on the balance between protecting young people and maintaining a free society open to diverse ideas. The committee plans to convene again the following Wednesday to continue examining the issue.

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