CENSORSHIP REFORMS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 7

CENSORSHIP REFORMS

PICTURES AND POSTERS •4 APPEAL BOARD CONSTITUTION REQUEST OF DEPUTATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 30. . A deputation representing educational, religious and social organisations of Auckland, waited on the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates to-day and asked for a radical improvement in the censorship of films and film posters and an alteration in the constitution of the appeal board. Mr Mahon, headmaster of the Grammar School, said the Cabinet had not acted when representations were made previously on the same subject. A number of films which had a- harmful influence oh children had been rejected by the censor but passed by the appeal board. The deputation wished the appeal board made .an independent judicial body and urged that all posters should be subject t-o strict censorship and that the film censorship’ should be exercised in conserving' the best interests of the community. There was a substantial pressure of public opinion -behind the move for reform. At present the censor’s imprimatur was absolutely no guide to the quality or character of the film. Archbishop Averill, Bishop Liston and others also .spoke and the deputation submitted a plan which it was suggested should be followed by the censor.

Mr -Coates, in reply, said the film renters were only too anxious -to import- films which would conform to the requirements of the New Zealand community and he advised the deputation as a. preliminary step to confer with the renters to see if some basis for Improvement could ibe devised.