Firm Denies Charge Of Importing Indecent Books

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 7

Firm Denies Charge Of Importing Indecent Books

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 27. Sex was predominant in each of three books which formed the subject of a prosecution in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today, said Mr D. S. Morris, who appeared for the Collector of Customs.

Marketing Services (New Zealand), Ltd., a New Plymouth firm, denied a charge that in June last -year it imported the three books—which were alleged to be indecent documents within the meaning of the Indecent Publications Act. The charge was laid under the Customs Act.

After hearing evidence and submissions Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., reserved his decision. Mr Morris said the books were part of a shipment, worth about £2OOO, which came from an American firm, Capital International Incorporated, Connecticut. They were titled “Lust to Live,” “Frisco Flat,” and “End to Innocence.” Raymond Charles Aley, a Customs officer, said he had read the books. Their subject matter was sex and

violence. He agreed with Mr W Middleton, who appeared for the company, that as soon as company officials found out what was in their shipment, they said they would have nothing to do

with it and wanted either to re-export them or destroy them.

Mr Middleton submitted that the company, which had been in business for many years, had established a reputation in New Zealand which it was reluctant to lose. “We are not concerned in trying to say that there is any literary merit in these books, or that the books are not indecent," he said. The company had relied on the American flrm to select paperbacks which would be suitable for the New Zealand market. The three before the Court were part of a trial shipment.