FILM CENSORSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 6

FILM CENSORSHIP.

—♦ . DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER; A deputation, representative of tho conference lately held, in Wellington to discuss the question of the censorship oi films waited, upon the Minister of Internal Allah's (the Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday. : The several-speakers' urged tho need for establishing a censorship to prevent the, exhibition of obnoxious pic- ■ lures. . Tho Minister said that those who thought such . legislation •• could bo got through in Tialf an hour were very-opti-mistic. The agitation commenced by the Catholic Federation had already had an excellent result, and, had largely .wiped cut. the efforts being, made; by ;a ■,certain class, of people to exploit;,fch<}': worst 'side, of liuman nature. On , two or'three occasions films had been brought under tho notice: of .tho Government-,, and. police reports on ' the pictures had immediately beeu obtained. If it was found that tlie films wei'o obicctionablo they were shut out. At present war legislation took pro-; mmonco, but if, it was found possiblo to get through the war legislation as Tapidly as it was hoped, tho Government might consider the advisability of considering legislation dealing with other matters. In his own Department he had at least a dozen' Bills for the purpose of administering Acts under his control, but at the present tirno every one of these Bills was being hung ,up. Ho would give the deputation the assurance that, provided Cabinet was prepared to grant tho time for considering, the matter, steps would bo taken to. bring a" Bill before Parliament in order that the picture films shown in this country might lie put upon a footing whereby, instead of being' injurious to-the children, they would be for their benefit. In due course, the subject would be brought before Cabinet, which would decide whether it would be dealt with this session. Personally, he' sincerely desired that it would.