Move to Stamp Out Vice In Sydney’s Night Life

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31111, 14 July 1966, Page 11

Move to Stamp Out Vice In Sydney’s Night Life

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, July 13. London may be the most “swinging” city in the world today, but in the eyes of many people the vice boom in Sydney has earned it the title “most sinning city.” Along with the generallywelcomed freer attitude to sex in books, films and on the stage have come unwanted side-effects of pornography, perversion and open vice. The situation has reached such a pitch that the New South Wales State Government is conducting a fullscale investigation into Sydney's seamy night-life, and has promised new legislation against vice. The chief secretary, Mr E. A. Willis, revealed this after an appeal by a leading churchman for a clean-up campaign in Sydney. At one time Sydney’s nightlife existed mainly in the strip-tease clubs around the city’s entertainment centre, King’s Cross. Usually orderly and wellrun, the clubs presented strippers who performed to music, in what they liked to call an “artistic” way. But police believe these ordinary strip acts became so commonplace that they were losing their commercial value. So other attractions had to be found. In recent months these “other attractions” have included: The establishment of socalled camera clubs, in which men pay up to £N.Z.S for 30 minutes

to photograph naked teen-age girls. Pornographic film screenings for all-male audiences, at a charge of £N.Z.4 a bead. A big increase in organised prostitution. Claims have been made that “photographers” at the camera clubs don’t need any film in their cameras, and that the “cinema-goers" can make dates with the actresses in the films. In addition, a newspaper report this week said that a businessman was employing a string of 25 girls to per-

form pornographic acts for all-male groups at private parties. The Rev. Alan Walker, superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission, told a church service on Sunday that teen-age girls were being lured into Sydney’s vice world by high wages. He called for a Government inquiry into low-grade staged and floor show presentations. Mr Willis said that the Government was planning action against pornographic strip shows, and that new legislation aimed at vice practices was being drafted.