CENSORSHIP OF "TALKIES."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 222, 19 September 1929, Page 29

CENSORSHIP OF "TALKIES."

FOB SAKE OF PURE SPEECH. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A discussion on the effect on the speech of New Zealanders of American talking pictures took place in the Legislative Council to-day. The Hon. G. M. Thomson moved that the Government be asked to take into consideration the desirability of establishing a censorship of "talkie" pictures, with the object of preserving the purity of the English spoken language, and at the same time consider the question of checking as far as possible the presence of unattended children at similar entertainments.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw urged, as a more practical measure, that the quota of English films should be increased. The Hon. J. Barr did not see great danger in children being influenced by American speech, but he considered stricter censorship of films and posters was necessary. The Hon. G. J. Garland advocated greater encouragement of British films. The Leader of the Council, the Hon. T. K. Sidey, said it was not considered practicable to establish a censorship of talkies for technical reasons. The law did not provide power to enable the matter to be dealt with. It was doubtful, too, whether it would be possible to check the attendance of children at picture shows. He felt sure the Government would dr» everything possible to encourage British films, and he promised to submit the resolution to his colleagues with a view to seeing if it would I bo. possible to increase the percentage of British films for exhibition in New Zealand. The motion was amended by the mover to urge the Government to increase the percentage of the quota in I favour of British films and in that form the motion was carried unanimously.