INDECENT DOCUMENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1938, Page 6

INDECENT DOCUMENTS

BOOKSELLER SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT MAGISTRATE ON DUTY TO PUBLIC. SUBMISSIONS BY COUNSEL REJECTED. (By Telegraoh—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I have listened to what counsel has had to say on behalf of the accused, and I appreciate that in appearing to defend a man on charges of this nature counsel has a difficult and most unpleasant task. I feel that I have a duty to the public in this matter and I propose to inflict a sentence of imprisonment,” said Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., in Court today, in convicting Reginald Hullena, bookseller, Vivian Street, on four charges of delivering by way of hire indecent documents, and two charges of being in possession for hire of indecent documents. Hullena was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each of the two charges, the sentences being cumulative, and was convicted and discharged on other charges. The police case described a raid on Hullena’s premises, where a quantity of literature was seized. Defendant, it was stated, also conducted a club at his home at Petone, where members were charged a membership fee ranging from four shillings to a guinea, according to their capacity to pay. This club operated over weekends, and “'French classics” referred to in connection with the club were described as vile and obscene compositions by unknown authors.

For the defence, Mr J. R. Scott said no evidence had been produced by the police as to the nature or class of people into whose hands the literature came. There was no evidence of broadcasting and the matter was not broadcast. The members of the club were men occupying responsible positions in the city, and Hullena had not catered for young or susceptible persons.