CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26529, 18 September 1951, Page 3

CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS

CHANGES PROPOSED DECISIONS BY WOMEN’S COUNCIL (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 17. A reclassification of films, stricter regulation of advertising and an improvement in the methods of exhibiting the film censor’s certificate, were recommended to-day by the Dominion executive of the National Council of Women. The New Zealand Film Institute supported the classification of films which the council’s recommendation set out. The four age groups were, “adults only,” “adults and adolescents (14 to 18 years) only,” “family audience,” and “films for children (over seven).” Another recommendation was that provision be made in the act “that all advertising material must include the New Zealand censor’s certificate, keeping the exact wording and being clearly printed.” It was recommended that the New Zealand censor’s certificate attached at the beginning of a film should be clearly exhibited and increased to twice its present length, and should have if possible a sound track with appropriate wording. The meeting agreed that the Film Approval Board should be established in the city where the censor works, and be enlarged to include representatives from the following groups:— educational, religious, motion picture industry, and New Zealand Film Institute, the board’s chairman to have expert knowledge of films. Another recommendation was that non-commercial interests be allowed to appeal against the classification, banning, or approval of a film. At present only the owner of a film may appeal. This was unsatisfactory it was said, because it implied that the cinema was the exclusive preserve of its commercial agents. It was agreed that someone with special knowledge of the kind of films children should see should be made available by the Education Department to the censor to be called on when necessary.