THE PICTURE SHOWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 9

THE PICTURE SHOWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF '"THE TKESS."

Sir,—Mr Peter Trolovc accuscs me of living in my tub, and consequently tawing a cramped outlook. So far as I remember, my famous prototype was tho man who took a sane ajid comprehensive view of the morals and manners of lii.s time and country. Mr Peter Uroloye thinks his companionship at recruiting meetings would have altered my moral perception. Why? I can assure this gentleman that I have doue

a lair sham of recruiting work, and would have done more if possible. You, Mr Editor, may possibly bear witness that I have helped in every wholesome j form of recreation in tiiis-city, both with time and more material assistance. 1 am no wowser in any sense of tho word, but 1 have a 1 ways done, and will always do, my best to prevent the demoralisation of the young. Adults must take care of themselves; there would be fewer unable to do so were the young given that careful training and discipline they require. Mr Peter Trolove's kind heart woulh have been satisfied last night had iie come down town, as I did, to look at the war news, and afterwards strolled round to the various picture thaatres. He would have seen, even on such a night, perambulators, with tho clothes half-turned down, waiting for mother—' dear mother—and dad, and the baby in aims, to come out of tho fetid atmosphere of tho picture shows into the cold, inclement night. Mr Peter Trolove (Mints to the appearanco of Christ on the picture stage as a proof of its beneficial action. It is perhaps possible to doubt whether tho vulgarisation of the sacred mysteries of our religion is the best way of enforcing its morality, more especially as the next picture show may reveal such a film as I alluded to before that left ono with a sense of degradation. And tho two films will be classed together in tho child's mind as the movies.

Mr Editor, I beg you to take my advice—go for a night or two,, not to chosen programmes, but to whatever is showing. You would see three kinds of objectionable lilms. The unutterably vulgar, in which too often young girls are mado to behave witli a license bordering on ;n----deconcy. Tho suggestive film, where there is a sudden change at.the critical point, and you would hear tho suggestive laughter of tho audience. Tho criminal film, where it is shown how easy it is to commit a crime. I think you would then have little doubt as .to tho effect of such examples on tho infinitely impressionable and absorbeat developing mind. Come out, I implore you. Irom your Greek plays and higher, literature. Fill, for a time, the part of the Caliph Haroun al-Raschid. Go among the people, not as an editor, but as a man, and I assure you if you then write you will writo in a very different strain.

So far '1 your police officer is concerned, I think lie has forgotten. Thero have been several cases of unmanageable children who would go to tho picture shows and whoso parents did iiot provide the money. Where did they get it? You again accuso me of exaggeration—forcible expression - is not exaggeration. "With your police officer's opinion you shut your eyes to other forms of immorality, and say they do not exist. I say they do. I know", and I know better than the polico; and Mr W. L. Chrystall knows, and I would take his word on this point, for he is impartial and of unbounded experience, whereas the object of the police is too often to smooth over matters. There are things one cannot very well say in print, but if you wish them said and you dare to publish them I could tell you that which would mako you wonder whether you had been really alivo this last lew years. Your doctor in a largo practicc tells you that he has noticed a number of cases of heart trouble in young children, even babies, that he has no hesitation 111 attributing to the unnatural stimulation of picturo shows. The same doctor will tell you that it is through tho brain—tho spinal cord, tlio nerves—that this stimulation of the heart is effected. "What, then, of the part first stimulated? The young, impressionable brain! But what does it matter—the fat man is getting fatter and gently caressing his bulging pockets—the thin man is getting thinner, and complains of the cost of living, and the children degenerate!

Mi* Editor, infallible as wo humbler mortals know you to be, come down for onco from your editorial aloofness and take a practical look at things. Don't bother about my imperfections; don't believe me; don't believo anyone else. Come and look, make a few simple enquiries, and then—why, then you will go back and wxito a leader that will scotch and wither up this abuse and .restore to our young people the happy, innocent amusements of healthy childhood.—Yours, etc., DIOGENES. TO TOE EDITOR OF "THE PKESS." Sir, —I have read with much interest tho letters of-your correspondents regarding picturo shows. There is no doubt whatever that in tho present state of things there lies a great menace to the future generations of New Zealanders. Some years ago, before tho continuous picture shows had crowded into Christchurch, a healthy, happy band of children filled the trams going to tho Hills, Sumner, and New Brighton. They spent their Saturdays in the invigorating open-air. But now what do wo sec? A pushing, surging mass of young children, and mothers with babies in thoir arms, striving to gain admittance to a dark"hall, hiding themselves from the sun which a while ago they revelled in. Now, Sir, this cannot be good for our futuro generation. ithout setting forth a condemnation as to the unhygienic conditions existing in picturc shows, yet it i s easy to see that these are not conducive to the best health in our children. At a time of crisis iike the present, the greatest caro should be taken G f the Jittlo ones, "*ho, Ave hope, will grow up into a people that will worthily sustain the honour and glory won by our brave soldiers at Gallipoli and in France. Thcro appear to bo but two ways of dealing with tho trouble. First, by appealing to the parents to eserciso more control over their children, and, second, by restricting the hours at which picture shows may bo open. Rather than that the Government should say to the people "you shall not,'' it is better for the people to say "we will not."' ZS'ow, if parents would only take the matter into their own bands, and prohibit their children from going to the pictures so frequently, all would be well. Parental control appears, however, to be, ala-si on tne dochiie, and iu many eases the parents ' are only too glad to send the little ones off to some place of amusement to I get them "off their hands.'' In this 1 case the only thing to be done i s to restrict the hours of the pictures These I believe, should be closed a t 9.30 every night, and on Saturdays should not open until 5 p.m.. thus leaving the afternoon free for the children to go out into the sunshine. If w e want to better the health of the nation we mu6t inculcate into the children a love f o r the fresh and wholesome open air, not for dark halls and artificial excitement, j, personally, greatly admire the way in which you have endeavoured to better the public health by calling attention t 0 toe dangers of cancer, etc. Here is an opportunity for you to strike at the very root of the matter, to make tho children healthy so that they may grow up strong to resist disease. I sincerely hope that you will use your power in the beet interests of our coming generation.—Yours, etc., HEALTH. TO THE EDITOR OK "THE rBESS." Sir, —"Who, Sir, is this new 'Diogenes'' thnt has arisen amongst us, with pearls of printed wisdom adjuring

all and sundry to eschew tho picture show, lest their souls be imperilled and scarlet fever besmirch their skills? Why doesn't lie sign his name to his rambling and ignorant diffusions, so that weuuay know him by sight and be able to feast our rye* on* his germlc>s person? Most •of the picture shows are joint stock companies, and most of the shares are held by investors of very moderate means right liorc in our very midst, and this fellow would rob these people of their savings as well iJ? thousands of others of their needful and harmless pleasure. Perhaps that is the reason why he is ashamed to sign his name. What u puritan gloom this pseudophilosopher would have this little world of ours be, for his arguments, in as far as tiicv mean anything, would apply in the inniu against theatre-going, seaside tripping, tho Sunday school and oven church-going—for do not the deadly germs of whooping coughu infantile paralysis, cerebrospinal meningitis, and what not lie in wait here for tho wan- and the unwary alike? Tho argument in favour of picture shows being advanced in England to!dav is that tho picture show is tho people's rest euro during the war —and the .same is equally valid here. As to the merit of the pictures shown —that reflects itself in the box office receipts, aud it is a poor _ compliment to the public taste of Christcnureh, to suggest that the pornie and immorally suggestive would hove any wide appeal. A professor of psychology at one of the) leading universities of the world has recently given .t as his opinion that tho picture drama has possibilities far beyond tho personal drama, inasmuch as it can convey by inset illustration the mental attitude of the players taking part in a play, and I think that even tho bigoted "Diogenes" would come out from the tub of his anonymity and cheer some of the really Jugh-eJass drama that picture.producers are civto the world to-day—that is, unless 'Diogenes has lost all senso of decency, and is not in reality one who can always find something wrong in tne good things that tho vast majoritv of people enjoy.—Yours, etc., QDI) , V. M. J3EEBE. 392 Gloucester street, May 31st.

TO THE EDITOR OP "THE TRESS."

-I very pleased to sec the letter in your paper signed by Mr Chrystall regarding pictures. ell, I think ho ought to know something of the liffe of this city. As a mother, I think some very severe 6teps should bo taken a s regards small girls going to these places by themselves; one is afraid to think of what our girls are going to bo in tho future, taken as they are, to see pictures, which, to say the least of them, are only too apt to fill a young growing girl's mind with undesirable thoughts, and unfit them for tho making of good wives and mothers.

At present child-life is looked on as of 110 account, if one can judge by the white-faced babies seen on their way to (and at) picturo places, etc. It i 6 timo something was done to mako our women r ®a]' se the great gift given to them in children, and also in tho bringing up of their girls. Until this takes place, wo can continue to look on this war as a punishment.—Yours, etc. A MOTHER.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE I'll ESS."

Sir, —The extreme indictment of "the pictures" by "Diogenes" will bo apt to miss its mark from its' very exaggeration, yet it contains a great deal of truth j your editorial note at the foot of the letter is in keeping with your usual fair attitude towards correspondents, and also states correctly the part you have taken in thia public matter. But "Diogenes" has raised a number of points which are worth considering. To wit: Are the buildings properly ventilated? Are they .adequately cleaned? _ In times of epidemic disease, should children bo excluded, seeing that schools are sometimes closed on this account? "Over-stimulation of the child's brain" is undoubtedly injurious, as "Diogenes" remarked, and the fresh air of outdoor life better than that of crowded theatres, and some of the sensual and criminal pictures are as bad for the soul of the child as tho enclosed and impuro air is for his bodily health. Tiie economic and financial aspect, too, is worth considering. But there is another side. "Pictures" often are, and might, under proper regulation, always be tho means of quite innocent entertainment, give a'great deal of pleasure, and convey valuable information not attainable in any other way. The-evil of overcrowding might be diminished, by having the best possiblo ventilation, and cleaning tho seats efficiently. The "pictures" liave bccome a big part of tho* "leisured life" of tho community, and should bo intelligently studied. I mako no special charge against the picture theatres, as to ventilation and cleaning, but it may bo said of most buildings used for public assemblies that these conditions might be .vastly improved. During a visit to Australia some years ago, I was' struck with the better conditions of tho theatres and town halls in both respects. Although "Diogenes" takes up a very extreme altitude, I think his letter may be of service. At tho present time* wo are apt to condemn all but the useful and practical, but this may bo carried too far; a reasonable indulgence in amusement is better than brooding continuously over tho calamity of a "world war." But one word more. If I were a shareholder in "pictures," j. think I would advocate a .percentage to the war funds, following the examplo 0 f the .1 ockey Club, although I have not tho slightest doubt that these shareholders are contributing liberally in tho usual channels. But out of their abundant dividends ! —Yours, etc., „ r , HYGEIA. May 30th, 1916.