WHITE MAN’S FILMS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 October 1927, Page 5

WHITE MAN’S FILMS

EFFECT ON NATIVES.

DETRIMENTAL TO THEM. NEED FOR. DL4CRIMI NATION BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT Received 10.750 a.m. to-diav. SYDNEY, Obt. 21. Before the Films Commission, Mr J. Beckett , former Chief Inspector of Aborigines, .pointed' out the danger of allowing Australian aborigines- and natives in the mandated, territories to attend picture shows, -where no discrimination was shown in the choice of programmes. They saw white men and women: robbing, murdering, warring, lying, getting drunk and committing every sin and crime possible without icing punished. Films rarely showed punishment, though they inferred it and blie aboriginals wondered why they should: not be all Low ed to do.' the same as the white man. He had closely studied the native mind, and had come to the conclusion that films were detrimental to them. Pictures eould be made 'a power for their uplift. The primitive mind was not untrained for it .and had been directed by tribal! teaching, and discipline to observe the cxpi^raitri'oTis <jl’ nature hi va-inioiia j>liasos. They were usually imitative and their memories were retentive. He liad known many instances where they bad committed offences that had been suggested by pictures. They should not be allowed to see any pictures except those- selected for them., and these should be candies or informative films without any sex appeal.