ARE PICTURES IN MAGAZINE INDECENT?

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1937, Page 6

ARE PICTURES IN MAGAZINE INDECENT?

C Per Press Association. Copyrights WELLINGTON, This Day. The Auckland Domain statute, nudity in art galleries, undressed shop window models and the March number of the Auckland magazine, “Health and Sunshine” were discussed in the Magistrate’s Court, when Maurice Edward Lehaney, bookseller, pleaded not guilty before Mr W F. Stilwell. S.M., to two charges brought . under the Indecent Publication Act.

Both charges, which were in the -nature of a test case, related to the pictures “Aegean” and “Garments of Nakedness” in the March number of “Health and Sunshine.”

Lehaney was charged with exhibiting an indecent document —the two pictures named—to the view of the public in his shop window, and with selling an indecent document. The main line of the defence was that, in the two decades since the leading case was decided, public opinion, like bathing suits, had changed, and nudism, as a cult, had made marked stride. It was also contended that the magazine complained of advocated a serious and honest effort to improve the welfare of the nation and was aiming only at these objectives, stated by the present Government as its ideal.

After hearing the evidence Mr Stilwell said he Would give his decision when he had given the whole matter full consideration.