OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 14

OF INTEREST TO WOMEN

THE SCHEME OF THINGS

(By JM.11.C.)

•■•■ ; Interesting recommendations were .inado by .Royal Commissions on Moving "Picture Films, and reported at the Conference. Among these ,Vas a, suggestion that the.single censor -'should bo replaced by a board of three -persons, one to be a woman; they were ■to see the films independently, and if was not come to, see it again Among tho English recb-m----■;inendations were some that showed an ■effort to protect the industry, and also »to '.meet tho ease of pictures so adver-l-t-iscd as to draw the people who seek ;;the salacious: In this respect it was that the pictures should be ■graded by the board-of censors, and j'marked accordingly, that films marked ."i'"For adults only" should bo\ restricted ijto educational, scientific, and medicinal tfilms, and that no one should be perunitted thus to mark a' film,except tho {board. The difficult Question'of picii'turcs and childre.ii was exhaustively upon in Australia, and while ";}t .was 'shown that in many cases the ■young ones wore better-off at pictures than at some homes, the general opinion ■was that they were tired at school the "next.day, and that in a number of cases itheir eyesight was considered to have "Visual memory is the strongrest," said one authority, "and little cliil- , rtren are at the most impressionable age for the storing up of mind pictures." report states that out of 250 .^popular films analysed in three countries haphazard, 97 contained murders, -!51:. adulteries, 10 seductions, 22 abductions, and 4ii sucides. Also 176 thieves, 25 prostitutes, and 35 drunkards were plheed as chief heroes and heroines of. "child films." .. The reports are all interesting, and ■ a very true statement is';made "that the evidence tendered to the Commission (in ono case) proved that any harm which the cinema might JJ'-ause to children can be. reduced to; a "'negligible minimum by stricter parental control." The fact that a great many parents send 'their children to the pictures without any idea of what they ■ ase going to see is lamentable; at least they could read tho sketches of plots, ;and take notieo .of the advertising •posters. [f this were done a great deal •that is undesirable would be avoided. some theatres would become ■'ifavouritc places for the young ones to ;;be sent to; •

• i Modern ideas are very interesting as -they appear in some of the latest books ."which depict the outlook of the younger 'generation. The old ideas, go into the crucible' of modern thought and come, "forth cither cleansed, altered put of "recognition, or destroyed utterly. It .'is too soon to judge if the standard of 'life which is arising as a result is going to prove adequate for a suffering world. *Some of the thoughts .appearing in a "recent book are worth repeating. A igirlwho has "lived softly" is discussing "some of the smaller streets of :i big .city, and is depressed at their apparent sordidness. • An "ugly doctor," remarks humorously to her, "If I were a parson :you would probably call me slushy, but ; I think I have the authority of i«iy professional experience to remind you that yin these streets there's a real cosiness often. Little,shops that sell kippers, "arid, liquorice sweeties and Gold Flake; a few banjos and crystal sets kiddies „who manage to laugh, old bodies with ; no earthly belongings save a cat and rheumatism who manage not to grouse, folk who put a lot of our temperamental i .pessimists to the blush." Then the ..girl begins to think, and remarks on the 'wonderful people she met at a summer •school—"ordinary people that amazed 'one—the speeches that they make, postmen, porters! men with little shops full :.,o£ the most astounding and heroic feel- : ings about king and country and religion, that you might only'look for in a. Bishop."' They then came, to the . conclusion that the saga .of the ordinary .'man was not sung half enough;'he was ,' made a ; great fuss- about in the .war, alid Lthen forgotten.' '.'Why," asked the girl' ..passionately, "is it always.. 1 the beastly 1 things they make ;thc big',noise about .—the decadence of .the upper classes, .(he stupidity of the middle classes^ the .'discontent.of ■. tho lower, 'classes',." 'the' .families-' that quarrel the couples That get divorced* the 'freaks that commit suicide? Why aro these things always boomed? Why can't there be a tremendous' scheme of - publicity to boom all the happiness there .really is in the country, to advertise the decency and fun and kindness and honour that's lying about in heaps'?" "Why, indeed," was the reply. "No man in his senses ...would suggest that the theologians invented sin, but wo do make confusion worse confounded by dwelling on it. That's surely -sound psychology." The girl thinks of. a clergyman of her ac- ( quaintance" who refused to make sin ...an obsession in his treatment of the ; sinner, and.asks the advertising man why he can't do something in tha -matter. "A boom of. happiness and decency would' fall .too flat," he grinned. '■^'Papers, wouldn't be spicy enough for 'your man.in the 'tube. Look at the .crime mania in the theatre. Same everywhere.' Virtue hasii't an earthly as news.- You can't boom or propagand • anything that's tremendously spiritual; it's top subtle to be said with posters. "The kingdom co'meth not by observa- • -vation; certainly not by Act of Par. liament, or the agencies of the daily 1 'shriek. It's done in holes and corners ,—by the actors who play "Hamlet" to empty, houses. The parsons with dwindr "ling services, obscure fellows who3e ' names are never heard of; a few good '.folk with degrees who bury themselves in elementary schools; all the faithful '-of whom the world is not worthy, who ihayo discovered that there are some "secrets too wonderful to bo shouted, /which can only be whispered; even if ■it take 3 all your lifetime to make only " ono other hiniKinbcing hear, With your "pardon, we're ' publicity .mad_ these ...dayo." And so on—the wisdom" of, tho young, talking and thinking together. Tho girl says to herself, how is it'the Old Brigade could not.seo-the-honesty, -the wholesom.eness . underneath- • what "they so easily dubbed flippancy? Didn't "they appreciate the verbosity of politics which had not pro vented the-war? The facile repetitions of religion which "had not succeeded in exterminating tho .slums, had ceased to appeal.' Without " doubt, in her mind, tho obscure and tho patient were the Army of God.

Australian women have entered into a i business-like' organisation in re-, gard to prospective women ; candidates for Parliament. A strong of Women Voters has been formed, and it 1 is progressing to the point of having a paid secretary and an office in the centre of the city. The object is to select and train women for Parliamentary candidates./ They are already be■ing chosen, and the points which gov"ern the selection is not'party—of any -kind—but suitability. Good carrying voice, gfood physique, sufficient education "to study political subjects, specially ':thosc which most directly affect wonion and-children, are somo of the qualifications required. Between now and .-the next elections these women are to „-be asked, to address meetings, sotne- > times on special subjects. Questions are be freely asked to get them used to the "fire" which always comes at clec-

Abroad and At Home ."

Hon. times." ' When tlieso trainees arc ready—and it is said that some promise well—a ballot will be taken, and the selected will be "energetically supported. In the meantime the league is growing strongly, and money will ba

forthcoming when tlie election comes. The plan is an admirable one, and tlie Australian women will receive many good wishes for the success of their sonsible uiovemcut.