“tidying” Of Indecent Publications Act Urged (Press, 4 November 1971)

On 3 November 1971, the New Zealand Police made submissions to the Parliamentary Petitions Committee regarding the Indecent Publications Act. Chief Superintendent G. A. Dallow stated that the Act did not require significant overhaul but needed some “tidying up.” He pointed out concerns regarding the six-month time limit for prosecuting booksellers, which was usually adequate but often insufficient for importers who could profit from large shipments while escaping prosecution for disseminating indecent material. This discrepancy resulted in the unjust situation where shopkeepers faced legal consequences for displaying a few indecent magazines, while importers remained unaffected. Dallow noted the ambiguity in the law concerning the public display of restricted books, which had led to mixed outcomes in recent prosecutions in Auckland and Wellington. He warned that without clarifications through amendments, future legal actions might require appeals to the Supreme Court, a course that he hoped to avoid. The Rev. J. L. S. Smith, representing around 75 Roman Catholic priests from the Wellington deanery, expressed views on the moral implications of the current publications. He advocated for changes that would allow the removal of obscene illustrations or text from publications deemed blasphemous. Father Smith argued that modern publications were contributing to a decline in moral standards and eroding respect for marriage and family life, leading New Zealand towards serious social issues such as increasing illegitimacy and delinquency. During the submissions, there was also discussion about the impact of media coverage on the sale of books that came before the Indecent Publications Tribunal. W. Boyd, circulation manager of Gordon and Gotch (N.Z.), Ltd, indicated that the publicity associated with particular titles often boosted sales but could not confirm whether naming specific titles was fair. He acknowledged that the appearance of books at the tribunal naturally drew attention to them. Questions were raised regarding the effectiveness of the company's internal tribunal in vetting books for potential indecency. Boyd explained that they relied on overseas reviews and senior staff evaluations, often seeking legal opinion for controversial works. Overall, the submissions highlighted the challenges and complexities of regulating indecent publications while signalling a need for potential amendments to clarify existing laws.

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