THE TALKIES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19724, 14 September 1929, Page 21

THE TALKIES.

i H ♦ H PURITY OP ENGLISH ■ THREATENED. B AMERICAN JINGOISM. H [TBS PBESB Special Serric*.] WELLINGTON, September 13. H Fears that the increasing popularity Bj of the "talkies" might endanger the Bj purity of the English language spoken Bl in New Zealand were expressed by Mr ■■ B. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Bj Suburbs) in the House of Eepresenta- BT tives to-day. Mr Wright declared that the sound films assisted the introduc- ■■ tion of more Americanism, and this might prove detrimental to the children ■■ of the Dominion. It was to be regretted that the purity of our language was ■■ to be interfered with by American terms and expressions, and the slang words employed by that country would soon be-1 come part of the language here unless the greatest care were taken. The remedy KB of course was for the United Kingdom to produce all the pictures required by ■■. New Zealand, but that was an impossibility. Mr Wright trusted that the film censor would do his best to prevent the introduction of as much American- ■■ ism as possible. Sydney was becoming rapidly Americanised, and it would bo the same in New Zealand if care were not exercised. The jingoistic nature of a sub-title BWj in a film recently screened in Welling* ton was referred to by Mr W. J. Jordan BY (Manukau). The subject was the BJj American Battle Fleet with the guns un- ■! | covered and the Stars and Stripes fly- YB ing, and while it might be right enough BWJ for American people to see pictures of BYJ their Navy, steps should be taken to BVJ prevent such pictures being shown in Bvi New Zealand. Foreign jingoism should flH| be kept out, as it savoured of defiant BV rather than peaceful intentions. Bb In replying, the Minister for Internal BH Affairs (the Hon. Mr de la Perrelle) BBJ said he agreed that New Zealand did WM, not want too much Americanism in the 12' talkies. The other evening he had at- B\ tended a British talkie which proved VB to be an excellent production. The BY Minister said he had had a conference in Bb his room of the leading picture interests, BY and as a result a stipulation had been BJj made that a greater proportion of Bri- Ya| tish films should be screened in the Bm future. (Hear, hear.) BY