Nuclear-war film at Parlt

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 4

Nuclear-war film at Parlt

Parliamentary reporter The member of Parliament for Waipa, Ms Marilyn Waring, has invited her Parliamentary colleagues and staff to attend a screening of the nuclear-disaster film, “The Day After,” at the Beehive on February 9. Ms Waring will host the

screening at the invitation of Amalgamated Theatres a week before the film is due for general release. Known as a supporter of nuclear weapons-free zones, Ms Waring has occasionally clashed with other National members of Parliament over defence issues, particu-

larly the visits of warships possibly carrying nuclear weapons.

Ms Waring yesterday issued an invitation to Government and Opposition secretaries and the Parliamentary Press Gallery to join her at the screening in the Beehive Theatrette. All other 91 members of Parliament have been invited by telegram.

Attached to her invitation to Parliamentary staff and press is a copy of publicity material, which bills the film as “the most important movie ever made.”

According to the publicity material, “The Day After” has produced “an unprecedented degree of political fall-out in the United States. Hundreds of anti-nuclear groups ... have seized on it

te advance their cause.” It also quotes a spokesman for these groups as saying they want to inspire public dialogue. Social Credit’s spokesman on defence, Mr Dick Ryan, meanwhile attacked the decision to screen the film in cinemas rather than on television, as it has been screened overseas.

Mr Ryan said that cinema showings helped the Government’s desired effect of watering down the film’s impact.

He likened the screenings to a moa burying its head in the bush.

“If we persist in accepting the Government’s inference that nuclear war is science fiction, we deserve the moa’s fate of extinction,” he said.