THE KINEMATOGRAPH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 7 March 1914, Page 7

THE KINEMATOGRAPH

CERTAIN CLASS OF PICTURES ' DENOUNCED.

NEED FOR CENSORSHIP. (Unitbd Press Association.) GISBORNE, March 5. "Six years ago," said the president of the W.C.T.U., in her address, "the total number of employees in the kinemato-gra-ph theatres; in Great Britsun was about 500. They now exceed 125,0C0., Their wages "will probably run , into £12,000,000 per annum. The number; of people visiting kinemas per week is estimated at eight millions. There are about. 15,000 picture theatres in America., patronised by more than six million people per day. In the face of such figures, who can estimate the power for good or evil of kinemas? While I do not intend to enter into any detailed criticism of picture shows, I should like to ask: 'What is the effect of a certain class of pictures upon the rising generation?' There is no doubt that a- good deal may I be learned fTom films which treat of the foreign world, but it is an .incontestable fact that-there is another ci ass of picture [ that demands most ruthless, supervision. |ltis a class of picture, that is a- "popular I feature at inany. picture shows-r-ccarc.e, clandestine love scenes, sensational I crimes, bushranging scenes, of the Deadwood Dick t-ype, ana murders. These are undoubtedly harmful in their effect on the minds of the young, for they create a" most unwholesome appetite and ! invariably lead to unwholesome moral decrepitude. A perusal of the dailjt ! advertisements for the programmes are largely blood-curdling and seneational.tf calculated to hold spellbound, and, as one advertisement recently -put it, with 'thrills enough to suit the most-exacting. It is a ma+ter of amazement that with parents fully aware of this, there should* : bo such apparent -indifference as to the class of entertainment which their children attend. It ihight be well if,'-in-New Zealand, some responsible body was created to supervise films before tiny appear in public. It- could * managements no harm, while it wc " '* - -erciso a most b^neficia 1 effect " . ■ >-"0 community." * -

It is proposed to erect continuous picture theatre in Wellingtonmaking the sixth—oil a valuable site in Manners-street, adjoining the police', station. The new theatre will give seating' accommodation to 1500 people. A young lady who returned a week ago to Wanganui from a visit to Rotorua is lamenting the loss of a dress basket, which contained nearly, all her earthly belongings, valued at'-about £7O-.' The efforts of the departmental officers to trace the missing luggage have so far proved fruitless. Meanwhile the young lady is greatly inconvenienced aiid perplexed as to whether it -is advisable or not to purchase a fresh wardrobe. . ~ -