NEW ZEALAND PICTURES

Evening Star, Issue 19186, 1 March 1926, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PICTURES

SCREENED BY PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT AT GOVERNMENT CINEMA. Mr F. Johson, tho New Zealand Government Commissioner, made reference on Saturday, when making the presentation to the 250,000 th visitor to the Government Cinema, to the popularity of the films depicting the dominion's famous scenic attractions. The public, he said, had been most generous in commending the moving pictures prepared by tho Government Publicity Department. This had been judged by the applause of tho audiences attending this little theatre. It was a source of general satisfaction that the quality of the pictures had compared most favorably with those shown on behalf of tho other Governments, notably Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

“ The rapid progress made by tho department in providing films of educational interest (he added) has been most marked during the last two years, and no pains are spared by the Government in maintaining a standard of film excellence in accordance with latest developments in other countries. This cinema enterprise, in conjunction with other recent activities of the Publicity Office, has pleasantly satisfied largo numbers of New Zealanders that the Government is giving good heed to the important'question of suitable publicity for New Zealand.

“It should be understood,’’ stated Mr Johnson, “ that the moving pictures are not merely being shown in New Zealand and in United Kingdom, hut arrangements have been made for further displays in other parts of the Empire, particularly Canada and Australia. They will be regularly shown in the theatres of the United States, Canada. and Australia immediately. “ Somewhat similar New Zealand pic-

tures were shown in the New Zealand Pavilion at Wembley during the two periods that tho British Empire Exhibition was open, and tho result of this publicity has undoubtedly meant an appreciable gain in a general knowledge of New Zealand, and has undoubtedly attracted the tourist and the migrant from the United Kingdom. Tho pictures have also been instrumental in educating the people of the United Kingdom in the resources of tho dominion, and in its unexcelled attractions in scenery and in sport.”