FILM CENSORSHIP.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15658, 2 August 1916, Page 6

FILM CENSORSHIP.

* BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE. (iHESS ASSOCIATION TELFGRAM.) WELLINGTON, August 1. In the House of Representatives tonight tho Hon. G. W. Russell moved v tho second reading of the Cinematograph Film Censorship Bill. He said & very general request had been made to the Internal Affairs Department for somo censorship of picture films, and after making wide enouiry, it had been decided to take the stop of introducing this measure, lie explained that tho Bill would come into force on October Ist next, and films brought into th 0 country prior to that date would y not bo subject to tho censorship. Mat of tho films would be examined in Wellington, but some films wero landed " first in other cities, so that it was not proposed to have a Board of Ceceors, " but provision was made to appoint, suitablp persons to act. and they would ■ bo stationed where they wero inost re- - quired. Pictures which children should ~ not see would be so described by notice over tho theatre where they were being shown. He did not think that any appeal from the decisions of tho Censor - was necessary, but this could be provided for if it was found advisable, i Tho men who would be appointed as censors would not be men with a )»nfc in their minds, but they would be clean, average, men, whoso duty would bo to protect tho public interests and not destroy the capital of tho men who imported pictures. Foes would bo •' charged for examination, and thesewould pay the cost of tho censorship A good deal of criticism 0 f the picture business had been brought on W the - proprietors themselves, owing to the gnastly posters exhibited. Ho was not '' sure whether the authorities had pauer to deal with these posters under tho Indecent Publications Act, but the msi- ; tcr was under consideration. If the ' proprietors were wise thev would verv largely censor t.iese posters themselves Mr Payne said ha. understood that this was a war session, and ho could not understand such legislation being introduced. There was no cleaner „hor m tho world than the New Zealand ' picture show Ho suggested that the sufficient, powers to deal with any film that was unfit for ordinarv view, and tins Bill was unneceasarv. * 'Hp Bill was read a second timo'aniT was immediately taken'in committee VnS i + ay i ne Ul ' gcd that thc Minister (should take power to insist that' onlv new iiiins should bo imported into tho country. An appeal against a decision p™vidS S fw. , ° * IMB, ' S ' rot « J

Mr Witty and Sir McCoinbs alao ad- ? v °m i. s . ol . ne form of appeal. , : r rcpli ? d thfl t ho was not ' disposed to adopt the firs£ suggestion, < as the intention was to interfere iritli * tho business as littlo as possible. With' ■' regard to an appeal, he would provide 7 for it by regulation. Ho rccogniMfl': • tno right of but could not dp- : cide at the moment what form of appril . ' : snould ,be provided for . Replying to Mr Payne, the. Minister declined to say what salary the censors ' would receive. The scheme iras oxperi- ' mental, and until it was seen how Tfc 7S it. was not intended to appoint: T,^ saJanes. as thpir'timV^ would not bo full)' occupied • ; ■ * At rlause 4 tho Minister moved rf-T'*'-' new sub-section providing for the ° r.^ 0 P efl - regulation, •• £ I he. Bill was thon reported Wit'* 1 amendments, which were aprroed to, n nd iv as read a third time and passed. Jj