"DREADFUL" PICTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 242, 13 October 1925, Page 16

"DREADFUL" PICTURES.

A REPLY TO CRITICS.

CONVINCING AUTHORITIES.

WHAT DO PUBLIC THINK!

"It seems to mc that moving pictures are rapidly becoming a sort of 'dailydisvil' to some ultra-Puritan minded folks," said Mr. Henry Hay ward to-day, when he was asked by a "Star" representative whether he had any reply to make to the allegations cast at the film business by members of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society at its meeting last week. Mr. Hayward said that his contention was born out by remarks made at that meeting at which Archbishop Averill presided. "•It was stated," said Mr. Hayward, "that the censorship of pictures would be better done were a woman added to the staff. It is evident that the manner in which the censor's department is run is not known to the critics. There is a chief censor, Mr. Joliffe, and he has an assistant. Beyond that, there is a board of appeal consisting of two women and a. man, appointed by the Government. Whenever a picture is rejected by Mr. Joliffe, there is the right of appeal 'by the exhibiting exchange, and it is an actual fact that this board, on which the women have a majority, has reinstated more than half the films rejected by the censor. "What really amused mc was the usual comments upon the depravity of the Xew Zealand children," continued Mr. Hayward. "One member of the society was actually nervous because some of our boys had been playing games of 'make-believe,' in bushranging. This 'make-believe' pastime by boys is nothing new and existed long before the cinema was invented. It . was stated that our boys were playing at games encouraged by pictures and were jrradually becoming inoculated towards crime. Ever since the dawn of things, boys and girls have played at 'make-believe'—pirates. Robin Hood and Ills merry men and so forth —and the dreadful, wicked Auckland boys carry on by playing bushrangers and infecting themselves with the germ of evil. Did not his Grace ever play pirates, or Sister Hannah impersonate Maid Marion or our dear, loving Wendy? I'm sorry for them if they missed this sport. It may account for their attitude to-day. Do these good people imagine that they are going to fill their empty churches by such methods? 'The tendency is upward, not downward.' A Council's Findings. In Melbourne, said Mr. Hayward, the chief constable stated that there was more misbehaviour on Sundays than on week days, owing to the fact that on .Sundays the picture shows were closed. The Minister of Justice in the French Chamber of Deputies asserted once that wherever a picture show was built he could do with one gendarme less. Bud the most important pronouncement on the matter was that of the National Council of Public Morals in England, which made a very exhaustive inquiry into the matter. The council consists of the Bishop of Birmingham (chairman), the Rev. Principal A. Garvie, D.D., Lieut.-General Sir Baden Powell, the Rev. Carey Bonner (Sunday School Union), the Rev. Monsignor W. F. Brown, Mr. C. W. Crook (National Union of Teachers), Dr. C. W. Kimmins (Chief Educational Inspector), Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P., and the Rev. W. E. Scuthill (V.M.C.A.). The council was appointed to inquire into the social, physical, moral and educational influence of the cinema with special reference to young children. In a voluminous report of evidence, taken from all sorts of reliable sources, it was stated that "no evidence has been adduced that indecency was more prevalent ia a picture' theatre than in any other place of entertainment. In dealing with the 'crook , class of film, the observers noted the enthusiasm of the youngsters when a wrongdoer was brought to book. Seventy-five per cent reported that they had seen nothing injurious to children, 7A per cent replied similarly, but with modifications, such as 'Many lilins were silly and inane, but not harmful." The remaining 17* per cent thought that the films were not likely to be harmful. The result of the inquiry was A Magistrate's Opinion. "Now what is the real truth and what are the facts and-figures regarding the comparative morality of our boys and girls of to-day, ' compared with the past, despite the evil influence of these dreadful pictures? On every side comes reassurance and from all over the world comes real evidence that the morality of children has steadily improved since the advent of moving pictures. Ido not think even the clearest evidence will affect the minds of the professional pessimists, who believe our boys and girls are doomed unless they accept their own particular brand of religious teaching. Such people are so habited to bewailing the depravity of the world generally that this melancholy outlook has become chronic. But P ask the great public to 'listen-in' to the truth 'about the matter from those best fitted to tell it. Let us begin here in Auckland and hear what Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., who is in constant touch with the troubles of youth, says:— " 'In the first place I wish to dissociate myself from the alarmists who have been aspersing the character of Olir children,' he says. 'New Zealand children are the best in the world. Statistics of crime committed 'by persons between the ages .of 15 and 20 years were lower in New Zealand than in any other country except South Australia. Even the splendid court record of Great Britain was eurpassed by the New Zealand born in the matter of crime. Fiftyseven British-born appeared in courts for every 47 New Zealanders.' Mr. Poynton said he did not deny there was room for some improvement. 'The whole outlook is improving,' Mr. Poynton says. stated to be reassuring. "A probation officer would not," the report continued, "admit any connection between the cinema and crime, while thirty-eight chief constables held that the cinema had proved to be an educational, morally healthy, and pleasuregiving entertainment." ■.J^Y c are convinced," reported the Commission, "that the picture hoiise means *> much .happiness, not only to the chiliW even to adults living or workatte'm f adverse conditions, that any :~- - / ■ !■■■ lor New Zealand onampiorishhi laundry Help" Laundry