Viewers’ views on TV violence

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 17

Viewers’ views on TV violence

Sir, — Congratulations to all who have accepted the wise and generous invitation from “The Press’’ to write in opposing the television films showing

murder, bashings and shootings. I enjoy good wholesome films — all wild life documentaries,

‘‘Country Calendar,” “Famous Old Homes of I Europe,” “Jim Henderson’s I Stories of Early New Zea- | land,” and films of similar I quality. I dislike “Close to i Home” as it is far from a true portrayal of the average New Zealander’s home life. Excessive drinking I causes as many deaths and appalling injuries as I violence. The recent tra-

gedy in our fair city of a young taxi-driver’s death, must have horrified 99 per cent of our citizens. Surely then it is beyond comprehension that anyone could enjoy watching films depicting similar violence on television. I appeal to all right-minded citizens to keep on writing, not only to “The Press,” but to the Broadcasting Corporation, beseeching them to show films of educational, entertaining and wholesome

value, and scrap, for all time, the unsavoury films of violence. Ail the mem~bers of our splendid welfare organisations may consider starting a petition to be signed by those who expect wholesome entertainment for our expensive television licence, and who oppose violence and sordid crime stories on our television. I am sure they would receive thousands of signatures. — G. STEWART.