Morality on English Stage

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1927, Page 9

Morality on English Stage

Protest in London Protests against the presentation of what are stated to be objectionable scenes in films and the use of offensive language in plays have been sent to the Earl of. Cromer (Lord Chamberlain) and to Mr. T. P. O’Connor (president of the British Board of Film Censors) by the London Public Morality Council. The document forwarded to the Lord Chamberlain, to which are attached signatures representing 123 organisations, states: — "There is a growing use in stage plays of objectionable words and phrases for which there is apparently no necessity. This language has been used in plays which depict life outside the United Kingdom and others which deal with the Restoration period." It is stated that the latitude claimed for plays of this class “might tend to lower the standard of good manners and to shock religious feelings." At the request of the Lord Chamberlain, the Bishop of London has forwarded to him specimens of the passages complained of. These, Mr. Taylor (secretary to the Public Morality Council) explained, had been taken from nearly a dozen plays at present being performed in London.

them to leave the country in the autumn.

Australia ;is certainly a better country for the establishment of the nightingale, due to the vast range of country and the warmth of the northern climate, where insect feed is in abundance. One of the reasons why the previous attempts at acclimatisation in New Zealand has failed may be due to the habit of some native birds of attacking a strange bird. The butcher-bird of Australia readily attacks small birds and even kills numbers of canaries, by clinging on the outside of the cage, and pecking the excited and frightened victim. The instinct to migrate, inherited through centuries of time, and always resulting in action on a more or less fixed line of flight, may also have caused birds previously liberated in New Zealand to take their departure by instinct towards the warmer land of Australia, to perish in the ocean. Even with a knowledge of the line of flight, and flying at their usual migratory speed of 30 miles an hour, it would take the nightingale 48 hours to reach the coast-line of New South Wales. This is ar. impossible task for so small a bird. In New Zealand there are numbers of clubs racing thoroughbred pigeons, which have been trained for generations in flying long distances, and observation has proved that the racing pigeon lands for water, to quench its thirst, at least once during a 500-mile journey. Occasionally a racing pigeon has been picked up at sea, but always in an exhausted condition at distances of over 300 miles.

A small stretch of water similar to the English Channel presents no difficulty to the migratory birds entering England, but as land birds have a natural dislike for travelling over the sea, they avoid any wide stretch and skirt the coast-linek taking the shortest track.

The few specimens of migratory birds that arrive each year in New Zealand have followed a line that their ancestors traversed for centuries past, when stopping places were available that have now disappeared below the ocean. Despite the fact that the landmarks are now not available, these migrants to New Zealand still make their way along the "well-worn” air-way, making a devious course via the various islands., If the nightingale could be introduced into New Zealand it would be welcomed by the great majority. It should be possible, as the' element of risk in changing its family feeding habit, is infinitesimal. There are enough noxious insects in New Zealand to provide for every minute of the active day of the nightingale, the world’s most wonderful songster. "ZOOLOGIST”.