FILM CENSORSHIP

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21213, 11 July 1934, Page 14

FILM CENSORSHIP

CRITICISM AND DEFENCE IN HOUSE REPORT OF COMMITTEE DISCUSSED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 10. The present system of film censorship in New Zealand was attacked by several speakers in the House of Representatives this afternoon, and was defended by others. The House spent the afternoon discussing the report issued recently by the Parliamentary committee which investigated the film industry, but the debate was not as interesting as it was expected to be, most of the time being occupied in a formal review of the committee's recommendations. Mr A. Harris (C, Waitemata), chairman of the committee, said suggestions had been made for an alteration in the Censorship Appeal Board, but the committee felt that was not needed. The committee was unanimously of the opinion that the censor at the present time was carrying out an extremely difficult task in an extremely creditable way. It was not possible to reduce all films to the mental level of a child. When an exhibitor had to publish the class in which a film had been placed, the responsibility devolved upon the parents to see that children attended suitable theatres. While the New Zealand censor had rejected films passed by British censors, the British censors had never rejected a film passed by the New Zealand censor.

Admission Charges Regarding the minimum admission charge. Mr Harris said no other country except Austral in and New Zealand had such a high minimum charge as Is. In London, the average minimum charge was O.lDd, and in the English provinces a.lftd. lie expressed the opinion that the falling-off in theatre takings in New Zealand during the depression was due to the high minimum charge of admission. Mr Harris added that the present contract was most one-sided, unreasonable, and inequitable. The committee thought the Government should have power to refuse a license to a theatre unless it was prepared to operate on a standard form of contract to be brought down. Mr M. J. Savage, leader of the Opposion, said he wondered how many pictures of an industrial nature had been censored because they might have an effect on the advanced minds of the Dominion. He thought the Government might give some consideration to the elimination of the Appeal Hoard, and give power to some persons of educational standing to decide. He thought the committee might have done more than make a recommendation for the alteration of the eensorhir>. and enable the censor or censors to feel that tliev were the Inst word. Mr J. A. Lee 'Lab., Grey Lvnni said people wlki said the committee had done nothing to improve the standard of films did not realise tlie position, 'le thought there should be a censorship of advertisements: but that that censni-..'-u|> :honid applv to all advertise ment':.

Parent?. - Itrsponsihilily Mr A. F, Ansel] (C. Chalmers* said the Government should take the riitht to refuse licenses, ;<••• the present building programme WI to waste of eani!al. Hfforriivr to the censorship, he '"aid that if narents took greater'control of children's amusements they would be much better off as a nation The question of children's attendance n\. pictures should b- a matter, for narents, and not for the censor. Ho thought the increased rejection right-' by '■"> per cent, was a valuable part of the commit tee's work, and wou'd 'ead to better programme ■;. He agreed that something shntiJrt be done to sunersede the Appeal Hoard, or abolish il altogether. Mr 11. Holland if.. Christchurch Xortln said it, seemed to him to be the obieel of large uieiuro supplier,; to crush out the Fi-n-ill exhibitor. WelIt'tT'ton's picture-going public was "ifi.ooo a week, .and the seating accommodation was ;M.OOO. which with three shows daily wa<= (53.000 a day. Yet theati-es were still bnjruj built. Many noonle who investcrl monev were in danger of losing their life's savings Mr A. ,T. Stallworthy find.. Eden) said the committee had attempted to whitewash everything and everybody The committee found everything in 'he garden lovely: but its recommendations in regard to the minimum price were welcome. Nevertheless, he though the censorship could be '•trieter. He agreed with the leader of the Opposition that no picture should be censored for political reasons.