Editorial

August 6, 1968

Opinions expressed in Salient are not necessarily those of VUWSA.

A Magistrate's Court decision in Christchurch last week demonstrated that the Indecent Publications Tribunal does not have sole authority over literary censorship. Mr L. P. Molineaux, SM, in a reserved decision declared the "King's Cross Whisper" indecent in a case heard on February 19 following a police raid on a Christchurch bookseller.

The Magistrate stated that as "Whisper" was published approximately every three weeks it did not fall within the term "book" as defined by the Indecent Publications Act. The tribunal can only pass judgments on material submitted. The Court, however, felt that it should "take into account exactly the same factors" as would the tribunal.

His main objection to these types of publications, specifically "Whisper", was the combination of pictures—often "abnormal" and "over-emphasis on distortion was given to primary female sexual characteristics with grotesque effect"—with suggestive captions and headlines which "invited the reader to indulge in speculative contemplation of an erotic nature", especially catering for "deviants".

This judgment is a highly dangerous precedent. "Whisper" is one of several clever and witty satirical publications which use sex in an entertaining way. It differs vastly from the recent spate of pin-up magazines which steer clear of concept and resemble a butcher's advertisement. It seems that the law objects to the fact that literary and visual works can be stimulating and enjoyable.

To justify his puritanical attitude he drags in the old argument about "depraving and corrupting" impressionable people. Thus we must have censorship to prevent a wholesale outbreak of sex crimes and vice, and eventually the end of civilised values.

This attitude exists because the fruits of freedom have never been fully experienced. Fear justifies and defends. Fortunately, however, one western country, Denmark, has abolished literary censorship and we shall soon see how true are the arguments in favour of censorship.

If a statement by a director of a Danish medical institute reported in "The Australian" last week is anything to go by, the puritans are on their last legs. He said that although the sale of "pornographic" literature had increased—much of it to overseas visitors—the incidence of sex crimes had decreased considerably. We may hear the refrain, "May the pubic be made public" sooner than we think.

-N.G.