PICTURE SHOWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 159, 12 July 1911, Page 2

PICTURE SHOWS.

ALLEGED DEMORALISING TEN-

DENCY

CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. At last night's meeting of the Rangibra Borough Council a letter was read from the Revs. F. P. Fendall and T. Miller and Mr T. W. Ambrose (headmaster of the Rangiora school^ Mr W. B. Borthwick (headmaster of the Southbrook school), and Mr T. R. Gresswell (principal of the Rangiora High School)-, strongly condemning the character of the filmß ! exhibited at the Coronation picture show in the town, to which school children were admitted free; Three of the films, it was stated, were utterly unfit for children's eyes and were harmful to. those who were no longer children. The bad effect produced on young minds by- such pictures, it was said,, must be far-reach-ing, and would do more than' any other pernicious agency towards the degradation of the morals of the rising generation.l It was earnestly Urged' that such steps' should/ be taken by the council as might effectively prevent the exhibition) of objectional and harmful films, in the public halls of the i town; and fur-' ther, bearing in, mind the widespread1 use of picture entertainmentsi throughout the country, they strongly urged that the Government should be approached on the matter with a view to the establishment of a censorship of all films exhibited in the Dominion. The Mayor and councillors expressed "their approval of the action taken by those who forwarded the letter, and signified their willingness t6 do all • that lay in their power to prevent the pernicious effects of picture shows. The Mayor said he considered that the Government should institute a strict censorship over the films, allowing none but those bearing an official seal to be exhibited. The ministers suggested that* a meeting should be held! to arouse public interest in the matter and lead people in 'other parts of the Dominion to move in the same direction. As outcome of along discussion it was resolved to hold' a public meeting to initiate a movement against the exhibition of pictures of a demoralising tendency.