CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 93, 13 January 1921, Page 6

CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

MINISTER INTERVIEWED “ADULT” AND “UNIVERSAL” PICTURES That the censorship lias effected a distinct improvement, in the tone of the pictures exhibited in the theatres of New Zealand is the firm opinion of the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Internal Affairs). Air. Anderson expressed this opinion in the course of a brief talk to a Dominion reporter about the censorship •generally. “When I took office," Air. Anderson remarked, "one of the first things I did was to ask the censor (Mr. Jolilfe) to indicate in the case of every film whether he considered it, was suitable for children to see. We agreed then to classify pictures as 'adult pictures’ nnd ‘universal pictures,’ these in the former class Hieing regarded us suitable only for grown-ups, and those in the latter as suitable for both grown-ups and children. As most people will have observed, the managements of some theatres at present state in their advertisement’ how the censor has classified a particular film. We have, however, no power under the law as it stands to compel such statements to bo made in all advertisements, and I intend during the coming session to ask for that power. Whether children shall be permitted to see pictures which have been advertised as suitable for adults only is a question for the parents. They must have some jurisdiction. “Complaints have been madq about the nature of some of the matter used in the advertising of kinema films. When it was stated a little while ago that the Government was thinking of taking power to censor tho advertising matter n deputation of those interested in the picture business waited on me and gave mo a promise that in future no objectionable posters would be exhibited. Immediately afterwards a marked improvement was to be observer!. “At the present time I am taking the whole matter of the censorship into consideration, and next session we hope to remedy whatever deficiencies there appear to be in the law. Notwithstanding all the criticism to which the censorship has been subjected, the fact that there has been a marked improvement in the pictures since the censorship was instituted cannot fairly be disputed. At the same time I do not propose to claim that the pictures are perfection, or that they are not capable of further improvement.” Tho Alinister concluded with the observation that pictures were like books, and what suited one person’s taste did not always suit that of another. “What the censorship is trying to do,” he said, “is to give the public a picture that rtill not be objectionable to the average mhn and the average woman. As for criticism, I welcome it; but I 'believe that no matter what we may achieve there will always be some who will not 'be satisfied.’