Two Books Ruled Indecent

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 30

Two Books Ruled Indecent

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 29.

The Indecent Publications Tribunal today dubbed two books published by the Grove Press, New York, indecent, but passed two other books for sale to persons over 18.

The tribunal ruled that the novels “Sadopaideia” by an anonymous author, and “Call Me Brick,", by. Myrroe Howard, were indecent. “Harriet Marwood —Governess,” by an anonymous author, and “The Pearl” were declared'not indecent except in the hands of persons under 18. •The books were referred to the tribunal by the Comptroller of Customs. The tri-

bunai’s decisions were given today. The'tribunal said there was nothing in “Sadopaideia” above a pornographic interest in flagellation, promiscuity and' the debauching of two young girls. “Call Me Brick” dealt with the sexual adventures of a girl from the age of nine over a period of years. The treatment was offensive and trivial and much of the terminology crude.

The tribunal said “Harriet Marwood—Governess” dealt with the complete domination, physical, sexual and material, of a governess over a boy. placed in her care. It had a certain literary merit, its old-world elegant style having the limited appeal of a museum piece. “The Pearl” gathered 18 issues of a magazine privately circulated in the latter part of last century, the tribunal said. Its purpose was avowedly pornographic, and it achieved this without exhibiting any great literary distinction. But it was felt that the book might be an interesting example to students of laternineteenth century literature, sociology or linguistics.