PICTURES FOR CHILDREN

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5000, 15 October 1918, Page 2

PICTURES FOR CHILDREN

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD, MATTER DISCUSSED BY SCHOOL COMMITTEES’ ASSOCIATION. PROPOSAL FAVOURABLY RECEIVED. 'The keenest interest has been evinced in the proposal to start a periodical cinematograph exhibition of educational films for school children in Gisborne. The suggestion was made bv Air E. Beatson, a member of the Gisborne East School Committee, at a recent meeting and as a result lie and tile chairman., Mr Asliton, were authorised to interview Mr 0. N. Gillespie, the film manager of the Picture Supplies, Limited, in regard to the matter. The deputation duly met Air Gillespie and the result of tile interview, •which was fully reported in the columns of the Gisborne Times, w.i's regarded as most satisfactory. ■ Air Gillespie intimated that the company would be prepared to send •so many thousands ol feet or educational film to Gisborne say, once a fortnight and place a theatre at the disposal of the authorities for the afternoon at a charge, roughly, about twopence per head. A synopsis of the pictures would he supplied to the teachers who would thus be acquainted with the various phases of the subject to be presented and could instruct the children on the .matter before the films were displayed. The deputation duly reported the result of the interview to the Gisborne East School, committee, ami it was decided to bring the matter before the School Committee’s Association.

A meeting of the Association was accordingly called for that as well as other purposed last night. 1 Air W. J. McCiisKie presided over a good attendance. Mr Beatson briefly reviewed the •position .in regard to the scheme. In Nelson, Christchurch, Auckland and other places the picture theatre proprietors- had put on programmes ontirelv for children consisting of educational. films. At the present time the children saw pictures which were not good for them to see. The parents, it was suggested, could attend with them. The co-operation of the school committees in the district- was desired. It was proposed that the children should attend the pictures-on Friday afternoons- from 2to 5 o’clock. 'The headmaster to whom he had spoken on the matter thoroughly agreed with the proposal. Mr Gillespie had said he could send 10.000 feet for an entertainment and 3000 feet could be cut out if required. As the pictures would already have been censored, there would bo probably no necessity for further censoring. The Chairman: Do you suggest that children should only be allowed to go to these selected entertainments and not to- other performances?

Air Beatbon replied that that was the proposal. It was thought that if the children saw the educational films it would be quits sufficient and that they should not be allowed to go to pictures as at present. The Chairman said that it was certainly undesirable that . children should be allowed to see entertainments indiscriminately. • a . Air G. Wildish asked whether it was wise to advocate sending children to pictures at all. He quite agreed that if children did go to pictures they should go to good entertainments. ~ Mr Fa ram said that it would not be allowable for the children to go in school hours. Air Faram said that he had been informed by the headmaster .of the Nelson School, where the scholars attended special- cinema that although no general resolution trad been passed, the teachers strongly supported thg scheme. . After general discussion m whicu the proposal was heartily endorsed it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the various school committees for consideration. It is understood that the matter .will be dealt with at the next meetings of such authorities and a general comniittee formed to work out trip details of the scheme.