CENSORSHIP?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 5

CENSORSHIP?

picture shows and paintings. The subject of "censoring" or "regulating" picture shows was before the' Municipal Conference yesterday. The matter was introduced in tlio following motion, which was moved by Mr. K. Fletcher,. Wellington "That an amendment be mado in The Municipal Corporations Act, 190S, empowering Borough Councils tomako by-laws for. the regulation of kinemntogunplvand other picture shows and exhibitions." Mr. Fletcher said that he did not. quite jiow' what the Wellington City Council ■•anted-rcensorship of sorno kind,- ho pre-, lamed. ■ Mr. D. (Mayor of Wellington) seconded the motion. He said that he had brought the matter before the Wellington' City Council. ; It was not his idea that a censorship'should bo established, but that regulations should be franied to deal with, the matter. , Mr. J. Fuller, of ,Wellington, who was representing Wa.nga.niii, said that' most of the delegates must know that municipalities • already h-id tho power, asked by the remit, per medium of the license. However, the remit would not do any harm. Picture proprietors, ho added, ivere endeavouring to liolp the municipalities in .these, matters all they could. Ho move:! that the words, "and exhibitions" Rhouhl .be deleted. It was dangerous to bring "exhibitions" .within the scope of the motion. Mr. Fuller wont on to say that there had recently been an exhibition of paintings in Wellington—ho presumed that this exhibition was in mind— and that some ,of._tlie_ wor'ks.shown there might havo been, considered by some to be a bit "red.". S Mr. Fletcher objected' to the deletion of tho word, ''exhibition." Ho said that at tho recent exhibition In Wellington tliero had been a, picture which artists ,had said was a work of art, but which the public had held mixed opinions and ' mixed feelings about. Personally, Mr. Fletcher had not thought much" of tli© picture. Lesrt suoh oases should arise again, the municipality ought to havo tho power asked in the remit. The motion was' carried.