"AN ABOMINATION"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 4, 6 January 1930, Page 10

"AN ABOMINATION"

PICTURE-THEATRE POSTERS ATTACK BY CANON JAMES "IS-THE CHILD SAFE?" I have in mind two corners in Wellington. Day by day hundreds of children pass these corners on 'heir ways to and from their sev.sral schools. Many boys and girls must stand at these corners waiting for trams. It is impossible for them to do so without the gravest . danger of having the imagination polluted by the beastliness that shrieks from the hoardings. This declaration -was made by Canon Per.cival James in St. Paul's Pro-Cath- •:■ edial yesterday in the course of a strong condemnation of the posters displayed as advertisements of picturetheatre entertainments. Tho^ sermon ;', - ivas a consideration of .the question "Is the Child Safe?" The wise and good parent, he said, was careful to keep the chili safe from- the defilement of the impure novels and cinematograph films that abounded to-day. "We must supIjtpose^that they cannot be condemned Silas utterly obscene, within the legal de- .""; fruition of the term," said the Canon. : "Otherwise they would be banned. But i they*.are not the less insidiously perilI ous'j' they are nasty and suggestive, '"<■ amudging with their coarse fingers the ! sacred things of love, sex, and marI riage. If in this manner and spirit the ■ innocence of childhood is first to be \ made aware of these holy mysteries, i then we are indeed poisoning the wells. I Go'd'help the child who knows the worst too young. POSTERS WORSE THAN PICTURES. "Prom the infection that lurks in novels and picture theatres the careful ■ guardian can protect the child. But these posters are an abomination against which no parent can protect the child. Tor a long time the mass of decent people in the Dominion have ■ seen this disgrace, this moral menace in our cities and townships with shame and consternation. Representations and protests have been made by individuals and deputations; but the posters have steadily gone from bad to worse. It is impossible to suppose that they are submitted to any censorship. It is difficult to discern any limit that is set upon their lewd suggestiveness. The two fixed essential features of the posters arc an almost naked female, and a.vile suggestion. It is commonly said that the posters arc more suggestively salacious than the pictures themselves. "The people of New Zealand take pride in the beautiful children of the laiid, and the care which the community besto\ys upon their equipment for life. In proportion to our revenue, this small community expends a very large amount in. public education; and there are few who grudge the cost of guiding and teaching our children to admire and loye what is good and beautiful and trie. But right outside the school gates, we deliberately expose them to this moral leprosy that has crept in f rota-California. I say 'deliberately.' Forwhile the law compels every parent to send his child to school, the law also protects- these pestilential posters. 'Clean-minded men, whatever the natural impulse, may not interfere with these posters any more than with other property; in public places. '.'THE FETID GARBAGE." "Who is making the money from the defilement of our children 1 _ It seems that a great part goes to America. It is said that experience elsewhere has impressed the politician with the danger of antagonising the wealthy and powerful picture interests. But I refuse to believe that any fear of the machinations of a foreign picture industry has betrayed Cur authorities into sacrificing the'purity and chastity of our children. (To, whom, may wo appeal? To the Government? To our loocal members of Parliament? To our civic authorities? >! It would seem that they are all concerned to put this right. I am confident that the indignation of the people ofi the Dominion is aroused. They will toleratcHhis abomination no longer. Anyhow hefe in Wellington, let cvury decent man and'woman, .every patriotic citizen, say plainly, 'Our city must be cleansed of this fetid garbage.' "