CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23747, 19 September 1942, Page 4

CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

MINISTER’S RBPLV EDUCATION BOARDS N<fl, SATISFIED

Agreeing with the Wanganui Ed*#* ; tion Board that the reply of th* . ter of Education (the Hon. V-r[ Mason) to its request for »«*Jgf censorship of films was unMtilftrt®?' the Canterbury Education . BMW JF ; terday decided to approach the ter again on this subject, . \ The letter from the Wanganui boara stated that the Minister had replied « the most recent representations_W W j lows; —“Since the Education Depin* : ment last wrote to you on this iuoJbj \ the censorship of films for children nilt been given further consideration BIW P t is hoped that something further iw j be dope to discourage children IWg j seeing unsuitable films. I apprWW'* ) very much the interest that your MIW j is taking in the moral welfare or w*; children of New Zealand, and hop# WJ the publicity which has been given w; the question through your efforts wtu -j be the means of encouraging pared*j to take their responsibilities more WU* ] ously,” The Wanganui board felt;tn« >■ this reply did.not give promise 01 any ■ adequate action to deal with this pron* lem, and it considered that the should be discussed at the next con* ference of boards and followed w strong representations to the Minister by deputation. „ “That is all very well, but the next conference may not be for 12 or more. We, should act now, saw Mr C. S. Thompson. ... , Mr W. T. Langley commented that in an earlier reply the Minister had sain the responsibility was the parents. T« difficulty was that now in many cast* both parents were working, even .., the evenings, and sometimes the cnu* dren were given sixpence to go to tJW pictures. There were many k nO T; cases of children being found asleep “* the picture theatres. . . Mr Thompson: Not much harm is Mj ing done if they are asleep. (Laughter.' He moved that the board express. l * dissatisfaction with the reply and ttw a committee be set up to draft a repu setting out the board's opinions. In subsequent discussion Mr Lanj* ley expressed the view that children under 14 should be prohibited from s'* tending picture shows at night, W. 8 Mr A. McNeil the opinion that CB“' dren should be prohibiteSßrom seeini films recommended by Wk,censor w suitable only for adults. . The framing of the further letter w the Minister was left in the bands n* 1 the chairman (Mr S. Smith), Mr I Neil, and the secretary (Mr I* I Rowley). - I