SALACIOUS PLAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 7 February 1927, Page 5

SALACIOUS PLAYS

POLICE CENSORSHIP.

PROMISED FOR NEW YORK. OTHER! METHODS FAIL BY CABLE- —PRESS ASSOCIATION-COP Y RIGHT Received 10.30 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, Eeb. 6. Aroused by the announcement of a forthcoming production, which, it is openly advertised, deals with a subject usually treated only in medical books, the Police Commissioner (Air McLaughlin) lias stated that He would semi patrolmen to- all objectionable plays and arrest members of the castes and the managers. Outright police censorship is promised to fol.ow upon a season unusually 7 prolific in salacious dramas, against which there have been strong public protests. Strenuous eifoits have been made to have the managers introduce a self-imposed censorship, following the failure of the so-called “play jury” system, under which a group of unnamed citizens visited theatres, the managers agreeing to withdraw any play 7 they deemed objectionable. The juries proved too lenient,only one plav being condemned. Attempts to have the managers choose a censor from among themselves also failed.

Complaints are made that of some sixty productions now current, at least a third are salacious and beyond the bounds of decency.