The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1907. CENSORING AMUSEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1907. CENSORING AMUSEMENTS.

It is in the nature of a coincidence that, simultaneously with a movement in New Zealand for' the censorship of public entertainments, an agitation should be going on in England for the abolition of the powers of the censor of plays, or at least for some modification of them. In this country the idea of censorship, other than the watchful eye of the ordinary policeman, is entirely new, and arose out of a somewhat strained connection between a certain kinematograph exhibition and the pranks of some foolish boys, who donned what they considered the full war-paint of the typical bushranger, and strutted a brief.hour before the public gaze as fearfully dangerous characters—to themselves. In England, however, the agitation against play censorship has recurred for many years past. The present trouble has arisen through the refusal of a 'licence by the deputy-censor, Mr. Redford (the Lord ChamberlaitfVis, of course, the censor pr6pef), for a play called " The Breaking Point," written by Mr. Edward Garnett, which Mr. Frederick Harrison■,had accepted for production at the ■ Haymarket Theatre. A writer in the "Daily Mail" says: ." In addition there is a rumour that it is doubtful whether a licence will be given to another pla3 r by a betterknown dramatist announced for'production at a second West-End theatre. There is excitement in the foyers and mutterings in the green-room. The hordes of the ' intellectuals' are girding on their swords, and Mr. Bernard Shaw, Mr. William Archer and the rest are preparing more fulminations against the licenser and all his works." In the meantime, Mr. Garnett has published "The Breaking Point," in book form, and has prefaced it with a sharp attack on Mr. Bedford, in which he declares that " by suppressing this play, the censor is flagrantly abusing his powers." Another quotation is given, which is of considerable interest. Mr. Garnett, it would appear, has been urging that a society should be formed to limit the power exercised now by the authorities at St. James's Palace, and he says:—" Just because the half-educated people desire to suppress Maeterlinck's, Hauptmann's, and Tolstoy's drama, for that very reason the intellectual public must combine in its own defence, and make its power respected; and it has, I repeat, a strong weapon in its hands, which it has never yet properly used: We must help the censor (who now goes in fear of the unlimited powers of country archdeacons and Mrs. Grundy to raise an outcry) to make serious artistic drama strong and respected." The "Daily Mail" writer,who favours the censorship, points out that " the half-educated public" is really the great majority to whom the suppression of these, and other plays of a similar tone, such, for instance, as Ibsen's "Ghosts," Briaux's " Maternite," and Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession," will seem admirably correct. He admits, however, that the power vested in the Lord Chamberlain, and in his nominee, have not always been exercised with discretion and knowledge, and instances the sudden withdrawal of the licence from "The Mikado" as an egregious example of stupidity. Then follows what seems a contradiction, or disparagement, of his own estimate of. what is fit for licence, inasmuch as, touching Mr. Garnett's "The Breaking Point," he confesses that the play "turns on a particularly painful subject, not generally discussed in public assemblies," but urges that, while distressing and candid, " the subject is handled with the seriousness it demands, and there is no line in the least offensive," and then naively adds: " It may be doubtful whether such plays are really fit for public representation."

The verdict of the reasonable mind will lie, of course, since a well-in-formed critic has , thus to trim and hedge, that the censorship is absolutely necessary, and that little has been suppressed which should certainly not have been suppressed, while, most probably, much has been licensed which should not have been licensed. The moral of all this to the Dominion com-munity-—and the Hon. J. H'Gowan,

Minister of Justice, who has promised to consider this cjuestiou during the recess, might, with advantage, take note thereof—is that, if there is to be censorship of entertainments, it should be exercised consistently and with knowledge and discretion. Also, that such power is better placed in the hands of, say, three persons than in those of one, and that there should be no secrecy and suddenness in the decisions and acts of such a committee, but caterers for public amusement should have due warning , of any intention to prohibit their intended bills of fare. Beyond all, such a committee should be composed 'of persons of a recognised fitness for the office.