Miss Bartlett ‘a Threat To Freedom’ (Press, 28 August 1979)

During a conference held by the Hawke's Bay Play Centre Association in Napier on 28 August 1979, Mr G. Beattie, managing director of Penguin Books (N.Z.), Ltd, expressed concern about the influence of Miss Patricia Bartlett on censorship laws in New Zealand. Beattie described Bartlett as a vocal campaigner whose actions had led to significant changes in legislation, resulting in dual censorship mechanisms being established in the country. He highlighted the existence of the Indecent Publications Tribunal, which is legally mandated to assess indecency in publications, in contradiction to Bartlett's personal views on indecency, stemming from her background as a former nun and schoolteacher. Beattie noted that from as early as 1971, Bartlett had claimed a significant number of indecent books were circulating in New Zealand, advocating for the need for two full-time tribunals to handle the matter. He pointed out that her efforts had successfully influenced Parliamentarians, resulting in amendments to the law in 1972 that increased penalties, created new offences, and extended the timeframe for prosecuting indecent materials. Beattie lamented that the submissions made to the select committee during this legislative process were heard in secret and remain inaccessible. Despite Beattie's criticisms, Bartlett, in her response, found it surprising that he had chosen to make such remarks while a publication from Penguin Books was under review by the Indecent Publications Tribunal. She highlighted the necessity for a full-time tribunal that could adequately address the issue of indecency effectively, noting that the tribunal faced delays in issuing findings and had reduced operational capacity due to a vacancy left by a retiring member. She stressed that the tribunal, currently composed of five members but often functioning with only three, was inadequately equipped to deal with the workload. Bartlett defended her position against Beattie's assertions about the secretive nature of the submissions, clarifying that press coverage was present during the select committee sessions. The exchange between Beattie and Bartlett reflects the ongoing tensions in New Zealand society regarding censorship, the definition of indecency, and the influence of individuals in matters of public policy.

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