Miss Bartlett’s Anti-pornography Campaign... (Press, 29 January 1972)

In January 1972, Miss Patricia Bartlett initiated a nationwide campaign against pornography in New Zealand, which gained notable attention and support through a parliamentary petition that received a "favourable consideration" verdict. The news article, reflecting on Bartlett's campaign, scrutinises her allegations about the availability of pornography in bookstores and the potential moral decline attributed to it. Harold T. White, the secretary of the Booksellers’ Association of New Zealand, questions whether booksellers truly profit from or contribute to societal depravity, arguing that Bartlett’s claims lack substantial evidence. Bartlett became renowned for her anti-pornography crusade, which was publicised through the media and gatherings. Her campaign was premised on the belief that the prevalence of pornography encourages crime, illegitimate births, and other social ills, accusing booksellers of willingly breaking laws to corrupt young people. However, the article asserts that her assertions remained largely unsupported and were based more on emotion than facts. Despite 26,486 individuals signing petitions endorsing Bartlett's views, White points out that this number was somewhat misleading, as the popularity of magazines like "Playboy" demonstrated broader public interest contrary to her claims. The narrative surrounding Bartlett painted her as a champion for decency, while critics of her campaign were often labelled as supporters of immorality. Her failure to provide concrete evidence to support her claims when scrutinised by the Petitions Committee is noted. The article further discusses the role of the Indecent Publications Tribunal, which is said to effectively reflect community standards. The Tribunal ensures that indecent materials do not spread unchecked, and most books are reviewed promptly, with few deemed indecent making their way into bookstores. Booksellers generally comply with legal standards, and there have only been a limited number of convictions regarding the sale of indecent materials. White refutes the notion that booksellers intentionally harm society with pornographic content and argues that the perception of what constitutes indecency can vary over time. He asserts that the correlation between indecent literature and moral decay has not been proven, and many experts contend that distasteful books do not inherently corrupt readers. Overall, the essence of the critique focuses on the consequences of Bartlett's campaign on booksellers and the wider dialogue regarding censorship and morality. The article emphasises the need for a balanced and reasoned understanding of censorship, questioning the standards being imposed by individuals like Bartlett. Ultimately, it posits that society should not be compelled to adhere to her particular moral framework.

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