"QUEEN OF THE SEA."

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9654, 10 July 1919, Page 6

"QUEEN OF THE SEA."

PICTURE MANAGER FSNED. AUCKLAND, July 8. Judgment to given to-day by Mr Wilson, -5.M.,, ;in the casein which Robert Cleland, manager of the National Theatre, was charged with having publicly exhibited an indecent picture. The picture in question was. a photogravure exhibited as a. paster in the vestibule of frhe theatre advertising attractions of the film pictiutr "Queen of the Sea.'- His Worship* stated that be must find that the vestibule was part of the theatre and, therefore, a public plate within the meaning of the Indecent Publications Act under which, the charge was laid, lie .further considered on the facts that one of; the figures. i n the poster gave the impression of being that of a nudewoman and, in his opinion, its exhibition under the circumstances stated had a mischievous tendency arid made the picture an indocent one", tie accepted the statement of defendant that the photogravure was »n actual reproduction- of part of the b&m which had tho unqualified approval of tho censor:. Defendant stated that when the picture was shown, on the screen certain: shades appeared which were not discernible on the photogravure. It seemed' to be purely a . matter of shading, but nevertheless the resiilt in the- photogravure did not meet the requirements or the Act. The management of "the thoa'we should have recognised that the poster was one it would- be better not to exhibit as they did! although in the screen picture there might 1 he nothing- to Which exception might Iktaken. Defendant would' be convicted* and fined £2.

1 Mr Skefton, for defendant, remaricod ■■ that probably there .would" LV air appeal on both law and fact. He asked liis Worship to'increase the fine sufficiently to enable- that to be done. The Magistrate acceded to the request, and raised the fine to £'5' Is, with"&s costs. He also fixed security for appeal at top guineas in addition to the amount of fine and costs.