Film Censor loses post to deputy on appeal

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 3

Film Censor loses post to deputy on appeal

PA Wellington An appeal by Mr B. C. | Tunnicliffe, the Deputy Chief 'Censor of Films, against the provisional appointment of Mr P. .1. McHale as Chief Censor has been allowed by the Public Service Appeal Board. Mr Tunnicliffe now becomes Chief Censor. The Secretary for Internal Affairs (Sir Patrick O’Dea), announcing this yesterday, said that the Deputy Chief Censor's position, held by Mr Tunnicliffe. would be advertised immediately. Interviewed in Wellington, Mr Tunnicliffe said that in many ways he had some sympathy for Mr McHale, a teacher at Northcote College, Auckland, a playwright, film maker, and editor of the Nat-.

, tional Film Unit from 1956- < j 59. | Mr Tunnicliffe, who has 1 jbeen acting as Chief Censor,! i said he had been engaged inl I censorship for 17 years. He j looked forward to the more! I positive approach of the Cinematographic Films Act, ■ 1976, and the possibility of more general films for I family audiences. I “Thanks to the act we I have moved from a negative jto a positive attitude,” he ■| said. The act had also opened the door for more sophisticated films — as shown in I the passing of the film “Last i Tango in Paris”. ' Mr Tunnicliffe said that although it was not his position to influence film-makers on types of films, he hoped mrv-e would be available for family viewing.

“We have been terribly! lacking in films for general' audiences, but these things! move in cycles and I think i the future looks quite prom-j iising. “We certainly need these general-appeal films! as much as the sophisticated; ones." Mr McHale said in Auck-| land yesterday: “It is not a tragedy. I would have done exactly the same thing." Mr McHale said that the right of appeal was an im portant protection for ar employee, and a safeguard against a political appointment. “There was always the' possibility it could happen,” he said. Mr McHale will carry on his teaching career at' i Northcote College.