THE PICTURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17275, 26 September 1919, Page 9

THE PICTURES

Sir, —I am a who'.e-hearted supporter of the pictures, and believe that picture entertainments are good both for young and old people. But I am not at all satisfied with the present censorship of the films, and think that there should be a censorship of the advertising of the pictures as well as of the pictures themselves. Thousands of people are going to picture shows every day, and they get much pleasure, some rest, and real good from some pictures. I think that the picture shows should be even better attended, and more numerous than they are, and should be mad« thoroughly good and instructive. This can be done at the present time, but it needs a strong and decided head of the censorship department. The present one-man show is evidently quite unable to grasp what is lequired. It is not only the more strict cutting out of bad and nasty bits that is needed. That should certainly be done ; but information of evil ways and things should also be more strictly cut out, and ugly scenes of gruesome details should not be allowed. Graisome pictures are not only bad, but they hinder people going to the pictures in the future. I have persuaded some lonely old men to go once a week or even more to tho pictures. In some cases the result has been most satisfactory. Quite a new interest in life has been created for them. But two old men went, and for three or four visits enjoyed themselves, and received actual benefit. Then they saw a sad. gruesome scene that haunted them, with the result that they have been no more. The particular scene was not true to life, and was so short and quite unnecessary for the understanding of the story that it should have been cut out by the censor or by any picture manager who understood his business. The great bulk of the picture-goers only want to see beautiful, striking, comic, and wholesome pictures. They do not enjoy nasty pictures of sin, murder, and death. In, the same waj, the insinuation of something bad in the bills and advertisements is not attractive to the great majority. If the people of the lowest taste must" bo catered for, then let them have certain places only where their tastes will be gratified. But I cannot think that therms is any reason why the bad picture should be allowed in any public place. The majority certainly "are opposed to it. We. have in Auckland a committee to do what | can be done to improve the tone, of the pictures. The committee, consists of representatives of the Churches and public schools. We have made representation-, jto the Minister for Internal Affair? at ' different times, and I think we have doro i a little good. But I am sure that ; ! ■<• I proper course is to insist on the appoint - 1 ment of a strong and decided head of the censorship department. JOBTf Raselden. St. Peter's Vicarage, Onehun<;a.