SALE OF INDECENT LITERATURE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 7

SALE OF INDECENT LITERATURE

4 Offenders Fined “DEBAUCHING PEOPLE OF WELLINGTON” "Debauching the inhabitants of the city of Wellington by circulating such literature and photographs cannot possibly be tolerated,” said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., yesterday, when two men pleaded guilty to having pornographic booklets and postcards for sale. “According to Hie evidence that has been given, there is a lot of this horrible literature in circulation. it speaks very badly for Wellington. lam deeply shocked by the evidence in this case.”

Norman Charles Fox, charged with possessing 50 indecent booklets for sale, was fined £5O and costs. Herbert Cyril Bayne, charged with possessing IS indecent postcards for sale, was lined £25 and costs. Detective-Sergeant L. Revell, prosecuting, said that Fox was the proprietor of a business called the "National Sales Company,” dealing in chemists’ supplies. Bayne was employed by Fox as a salesman, on a commission basis.

Some six months ago it was reported to the police that indecent literature was circulating in the city. Detective N. Bayliss, in the course of investigations, interviewed Bayne, who said he bad obtained the literature from Fox. Fox stated it had been brought into the country by a seaman. In evidence, Bayne said he had sold no more than 12 postcards, all to two Chinese. That was about four months ago. He had made about 3/- in all on the transactions. Fox stated that Bayne had told him there had been hundreds of requests for such literature in the course of his rounds. He wanted to have a go at selling the postcards. Detective-Sergeant Revell asked each of the men whether they would take this literature into their own homes. "I have too much respect for my wife and family,” answered Bayne. Fox replied’: "I just wouldn't take them home.” “The circumstances do not appear as serious as the detective-sergeant would make out,” said Mr. M. Sutherland, who appeared for both accused. He submitted that Bayne had sold'only 12 postcards, and none for the last four months, They had been sold only to people who had made inquiries for French postcards. They had not been sold broadcast, or exhibited. Fox had made no attempt to sell them. Any amount of such literature was coming into the country from other sources; every time liners from the United States arrived in New' Zealand hundreds of such booklets were sold.

"There is only one question, of course—whether 1 shall impose the maximum term of imprisonment,” said ihe magistrate. "Fortunately, New Zealand courts are not often troubled with such eases. It is about three .tears since i last dealt, with one. On this occasion I shall diverge from my usual practice, but any future cases will be met by peremptory imprisonment.”

He added that if the tines were not paid the maximum term of imprisonment would be inflicted. The literature was ordered to be destroyed. An application for suppression of the men’s names was refused.