VIDEO

Rip It Up, Issue 59, 1 June 1982, Page 26

VIDEO

A pre-recorded video cassette is a curious species, and it appears rather than come clean on classification, government departments don't know what to do about it.

Last year in the District Court Judge Callendar ruled prerecorded videos were documents (they are subject to-30% sales tax). But neither the Indecent Publications Tribunal, nor the New Zealand film censor have power to decide on video cassette content.

Right now the question of a tape's decency rests with customs, although they have said anything previously screened in NZ will be allowed through. If a tape is seized, the importer is issued with a seizure notice and has the right of appeal which generally means thrashing the issue out in court.

A court action is also brought about when the police receive complaints about material. Patricia Bartlett complained about the Electric Blue series of video magazines. The police asked the company involved to surrender the tapes, which they did, and the case is set for August. Video tape censorship rests with customs, and/or a magistrate or jury until such time as the job is given to someone else.

Since video cassettes are viewed privately in the home, the censorship rules for film and publications are not relevant. If

they are applied, one of the major advantages of video being able to catch what is outlawed for public viewing - will be taken away. Ann Louise Martin