SCANDAL

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 126, 24 November 1923, Page 11

SCANDAL

SPREAD BY NEWSPAPERS

RESTRAINING LEGISLATION

URGED

RESOLUTIONS BY PRESBYTERIAN

ASSEMBLY.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 22nd Nov. The need for keeping unclean details out of the newspaper reports of divorce and criminal cases was urged at today's session of the Presbyterian General Assembly, when the following resolution, proposed by the Rev. J. Paterson on behalf of the Public Questions Committee, was carried unanimously:—"That the assembly approve the action of the committee regarding certain newspaper reports, and express the hope that legislation will be introduced 'to restrain newspapers from reporting unclean details in divorce and criminal cases, both in the interest of the reading public" and of the many newspapers that da refrain from so doing."

. "Unfortunately," said Mr. Paterson; "there are some newspapers in the Dominion that are not too particular regarding the details they publish of these divorce and criminal cases. The matter can be looked at from three points of view. First, from the point of view of the newspapers themselves. The vast majority of newspapers are not publishing, and have no desire to publish, unclean details of cases, and those newspapers need to be protected from other papers which publish the details. Secondly, we need to protect the readers. Young people are urged to read newspapers, and they must be protected from haying their minds defiled by reading this information." Another matter that was often forgotten, Mr. Paterson said, was that relatives and perfectly innocent people were often pilloried through the details contained in newspaper reports.

"It is time we made the newspapers realise they have no more right to spread scandal than anyone else," declared Mr. Paterson. "I think we should, say to those newspapers that justify themselves on the grounds that it is their business to disseminate news, that we expect the same standard of morality and decency from newspapers as from individuals."

Mr. Paterson remarked that some tune ago he noticed a case where a ,woman had committed suicide in a certain manner. The case wag ' duly/ re-' ported in all newspapers, and in five or six months there were five or six similar cases. That was an example of the danger of spreading certain information. There was no need whatever to circulate such information, which was dangerous to certain types of neurotic persons. Th c time had arrived when the newspapers should be prevented by jaw from circulating reports that were injurious, defiling, and suggestive. We can be of one mind' only in regard to this matter," remarked the Moderator (the Rev. Dr. Cummingj. • The motion was carried. , ,-..•. . PERNICIOUS PUBLICATIONS. , A' vigorous 1 denunciation of a; certain type of pernicious literature that is now gaining wide publicity was contained in a. report .presented,.on'., behalf/ of , tha Public On behalf oFthe committee, the Rev. John Paterson proposed that the Assembly should adopt the following deliverance: Ihe Assembly calls, the earnest attention of onr ministers .and'people to the grave danger. arising, from :'. the' in- \ creasing circulation of debasing, literature In much of the popular literature ot the day there is manifest an extremely reprehensible obsession of sex. Some ol these publications, profess giving en-' iightenment on sexual functions: prevention of child-birth, and the-like. The ■teaching of such books .is 'most ominous lor the future of human society, and should •be severely, discountenanced : : Others .are t novels dealing with sex problems, glorifying unlawful passions, and belittling the obligations of marriage^ and family life. Many of these come'to , us in innocent guise, and we are often i >n ignorance of their contents and purpose, and they are allowed as reading | for our young people. While we may [hope for some safeguards from the reJ cently-appointed Board of Censors reference proves that •neitheir .the Governl ment censorship nor official' denuncia-; tions can crush this evil. We would urge upon parents the duty of protecting their children from the pernicious influence of such literature, but we must prevent the evil by inculcating a- love of good books. To this end, we urge upon ministers "and parents the duty of cultivating love of noble literature m the young people and upon all Sunday schools and Bible classes to exercise the utmost service in choice of books for their libraries. We would also urge upon all who have such inn^ce to do their utmost to sco that the books circulated by our public libraries are of clean and noble character."

PICTURES THAT BRING BLUSHES.

Mr. J. Brook (Auckland) said he would like the resolution to go a little further, and that the word "pictures" should be added after "literature." Some of the pictures now being shown, he said, were of such a nature that they made many people blush with shame. The titles were utterly misleading, and could not be taken as air indication of the type of picture that was being shown.

The Rev. Mr. Paterson said the onlyreason, why the committee had not dealt with the subject of pictures was that for the past two or three years tha Assembly had passed elaborate resolutions,, m which they had said practically all there was to be said concerning the subject of pictures. If the Assembly desired the committee to frame a resolution about motion pictures they would gladly do so. No one pressed for a motion dealing with pictures, and the original motion was carried.

The Moderator Baid he believed all ministers would act upon the suggestion, and that the resolution should be read from the pulpits.