WOMEN'S FORUM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 259, 1 November 1932, Page 11

WOMEN'S FORUM.

BETTER FILMS MOVEMENT.

At the meeting of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women last evening, the president, Miss Melville, reported upon steps that had been taken to get a better typo of film shown in New ZealanJji. She eaid that the executive had got\intj touch with representatives of picture interests and d ; scussed the matter thoroughly, and promises had been obtained that coo, ..ration would tie given wherever pos-; si'ble in an effort to improVe the standard of films. It had been realised that there was a large percentage of the public who did not see films regularly be : cause they did not approve , of the type of pictures shown. The question was fraught with difficulties and a suggestion arising out of information given was that an amendment of the Act concerning the right of rejecting -be asked for. After discussion, said Miss Melville, three suggestions were given. They were: To increase the right of the percentage of rejection to 15 or 20 per cent; to organise a better films movement to work on the same lines as associations that existed, for the purpoee in other countries, that.is, commending those pictures which were considered to toe praiseworthy and disregarding those which did not meet with the approval of the council;" and that the National Council of Women in New Zealand should get into touch with the National Council in America and. endeavour to enlist the assistance of that body with the object of securing an improvement in the type of picture 'being produced in America. Mies Melville emphasised the fact that narrowness must be discouraged. The pictures had a definite place in modern life and were a most valuable., means of education. New Zealand'was'far away from the centre of the world and the film was the only means by which many people had of getting any- idea of outeide' countries. The whole subject had to be handled on very-broad lines.

GIRL GUIDING. In an.address to the annual meeting of the Girl Guides of the Auckland province last evening, Dr. Elaine Gurr, dealt with the history of the Girl Guide movement since .ita inception , in 1909, when a small group of girls attended a rally to be inspected by Lord BadenPowell. They had met with a tool recaption by 11,000 Boy -Scouts, but this small-army of girls were to become even a greater army than the Boy Scouts in Great Britain. To-day, over a millionGuides were scattered throughout 40 or more countries, and when, said Dr. Gurr, we reflect that these girls would have homes of their own and would impart to their children, the ideals of guiding, there would soon be a population imbued with personal sympathy and goodwill, not only for their own, but for the people of other countries. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Guides and the one which offered the greatest possibilities for the future vas the growth of the movement all over the world and the consequent development of friendship and sisterhood among the girls of different nations. It was evident that the potential powers of the Girl Guide movement were immense. They could by thought and energy increase the resources of the nation; they could ensure that the next generation of children should -be born and brought up in healthy conditions; they could help to do away with suspicion and enmity between one class and another, and they could to a great extent bring about the reign of peace and goodwill. They could also raise high the standard of the ideal as opposed to the material forces of civilisation. Dr. Gurr then gave the possibilities for the further development of the movement. She especially encouraged Post Guiding, which was work among physically and fnentally defective children. The mere fact, she concluded,* that a physically defective child could train and become a Guide, too, had >a very heartening mental effect.