CENSORING FILMS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1931, Page 13

CENSORING FILMS

PRESBYTERIAN COMMENT

Ob the motion of the Boy. Dr.-E. N. Merrington, the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday adopted the following resolution in regard to censorship of cinema posters: "The assembly welcomes the Order-in-Council for the stricter eensirship of cinema posters, and emphasises the need of securing more wholesome entertainment than is frequently provided by the films (including the talkies), which only too often cater for the lowest tendencies of human nature. A fuller exercise of the powers o ftlio Censor appears to be the only mode by which the standard of cinematograph entertainments can be raised. 3'

In moving the resolution, Dr. Merrington' said that he thought it was- a mistake for the Church to be always finding fault, and where they found that an improvement had been effected members of the Presbytery should say so. . . •

The Bc'v..Dr. Gibb said an improvement might have been effected, but it would take a powerful magnifying glass to detect it. They had found in Wellington that in attempting reforms in cinema films and posters they were up against a conspiracy of silence. The Censor had candidly stated that if he were to pass all the films which came before him the public's hair would stand on ciul. The Censor also admitted that ho passed iilms to which lie would not take his own wife or'daughters. The Bey. Dr. Gibb said that lie furnished a report of the interview with the Censor, and the words "the Censor also admitted that he passed films to which he would not lake his own wife or daughters" were excised. Dr. Morrington thought it would be admitted that there had been an improvement in respect to films which, affronted public decency a year ago.