R.18 Put On Sex Manual (Press, 23 March 1977)

On 23 March 1977, the Indecent Publications Tribunal in New Zealand ruled that the sex instruction manual “Down Under the Plum Trees” is deemed indecent for individuals under the age of 18, except when they are receiving guidance from parents or professional advisers. The decision was based on the book's explicit content, which the tribunal believed should only be accessible through parental or professional mediation to ensure alignment with community standards of decency. The ruling followed a request by the Secretary for Justice after a hearing held on 22 February concerning the book authored by Felicity Tuohy and Michael Murphy, published by Alister Taylor. The book was intended as an educational resource aimed at providing accurate sexual information to children aged approximately 12 and above, and to foster discussions among youth, educators, and their families. However, the tribunal noted that certain passages in isolation were undeniably indecent, leading to the broader question of whether the book's content, when considered in its entirety, could be classified as indecent. The tribunal argued that the book lacked significant literary or artistic value, asserting that it primarily focused on the physical aspects of sexual activity while potentially undermining the guidance traditionally offered by parents and teachers. The dissenting opinion, voiced by Mr I. R. Cross, contended that the book, targeted at young readers, being categorised as indecent in most instances was inappropriate and unrealistic. In response to the tribunal's ruling, Alister Taylor expressed satisfaction, believing that the outcome could influence societal perspectives on sexual education. He indicated that 10,000 copies of the book had been printed and would return to sale shortly. Conversely, the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards expressed outrage, calling for the resignation of the tribunal members involved in the decision. Miss Patricia Bartlett, the society's secretary, labelled the ruling as offensive and detrimental, stating that it could exacerbate social issues related to venereal disease and illegitimacy. Bartlett argued that the Justice Department had a responsibility to appeal the tribunal's decision in the Supreme Court, claiming that it has lowered the nation’s standards of decency significantly.

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