BAN ON PUBLIC SCREENING

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25364, 11 December 1947, Page 6

BAN ON PUBLIC SCREENING

FILM “INDONESIA CALLING ” MR FRASER’S REPLY TO .UNION’S PROTEST (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 10. A direct refusal to release the film “Indonesia Calling” for public exhibition has been given by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in answer to a protest from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Carpenters’ Union. The branch has carried its protest at the continued ban to the Auckland Trades Council, which in turn has referred it to the national council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. “Indonesia Calling” was made for the Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation in support of its ban on shipping to Indonesia. It was originally banned in Australia, but was released for commercial screening there after it had been seen by members of the Federal Cabinet. The film arrived in New Zealand many months ago, but public exhibition was delayed and finally banned by Mr Fraser. Answering the trade union protest, Mr Fraser said: “The release of ‘lndonesia Calling,’ which presents a very tendentious viewpoint on a complex and delicate question, is considered unjustifiable on the ground that it is likely to cause ill-feeling between this country and a friendly nation. The film constitutes advocacy of an undemocratic principle that minority groups may arrogate to themselves the right to conduct foreign relations of a nation, whereas these can only be the responsibility of a Government comprising elected representatives of the people.

“Publicity encouraging support of this anarchic principle cannot be acquiesced in, for to do so would be to permit a gross abuse of the freedom of expression which is- vital to our system of democracy.” Although Mr Fraser’s ban on the public screening of the film continues, the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union has recently secured a copy from the Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation for private screening.