PICTURE CENSORSHIP.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15395, 28 September 1915, Page 10

PICTURE CENSORSHIP.

LETTER FROM WOMEN'S INSTITUTE. The matter of a censorship of moving pictures again came up at the meeting of tho City Council last night. A letter was received from Mr J. Hislop, Under-Secretary of Internal Affaire, acknowledging receipt of the Council's letter covering a resolution adopted at a meeting of tho City Council, urging upon the Government the necessity for introducing immediate legislation for the proper censorship of moving pictures displayed in tho Dominion". The writer said the resolution was noted, and he desired to express the Minister's thanks for the same. I Tho hon. secretary of the Canterbury Women's Institute wrote drawing attention to the "retrogressive tendency of the picture shows to-day." Any wholesome means of entertainment and improvement, were to he encouraged and stimulated, the letter stated, and tho Institute wished in no way to disparage the cinematograph, but to emphasise tbat it was not fulfilling its opportunities for usefulness and culture. By means of picture shows a taste for good reading might be promoted by more frequent presentations of classical novels and plays; tho life and ecenio beauties of other lands might be brought home to those .who could not travel, and an intimate acquaintance with the fascinating processes of agriculture, industry, commeroo and scionco obtained without the tedium of the class-room. Instead of that one found increasingly films of conjugal infidelity and unhappiness, sentimental, sensational, or criminal escapades, and incidents vulgar rather than comic. Th© Institute expressed gratification at the proposed legislation for the safety and sanitation of tho building* utilised, hut further urged that the cleanliness and general influence of' : th<* films must be improved and maintained at a high standard. , It was dccidcd to inform the wntor o* tho steps the Council ivcrc taking in ' the matter.