Tribunal Rules On ’girlie’ Magazines (Press, 16 April 1974)
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Summary: Tribunal Rules On ’girlie’ Magazines (Press, 16 April 1974)
On 16 April 1974, Mr R. S. V. Simpson, the chairman of the Indecent Publications Tribunal, discussed a notable shift in societal attitudes towards nudity, stating that there is a growing consensus that nakedness is not inherently obscene. In his remarks, he highlighted the tribunal's responsibility to assess whether the free circulation of certain magazines would have a corrupting influence on the public. Simpson pointed out that current newsstands in New Zealand already display magazines with revealing photographs comparable to those in the magazines reviewed. The tribunal examined a series of "girlie magazines" entitled "Rally Girl," specifically issues 1, 2, and 31. Simpson described these publications as attempts to exaggerate the association between the female form and sleek cars, a trend exemplified by the Earls Court motor show in London. While he noted that the photographs lacked artistic merit and that the nudity became repetitive, the tribunal ultimately deemed these magazines not indecent. Conversely, the tribunal classified another magazine for homosexuals, titled "QQ," as indecent. They determined that the magazine, which featured the slogan "For gay guys who have no hangups" on its cover, lacked any literary or social value. The tribunal concluded that it presented homosexuality in a way that could be harmful to public well-being. Additionally, the tribunal ruled that Linda Lovelace's autobiography, "Inside Linda Lovelace," was indecent. The content was deemed to violate the tribunal's standards of decency, as the book depicted degenerate behaviour and appeared to aim purely at inciting prurient interests. Overall, the tribunal's rulings reflect a complex view of decency and societal norms as they evolve in New Zealand.
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