TALKING PICTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 12

TALKING PICTURES.

THE EFFECT ON SPEECH.

MORE BRITISH FILMS URGED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRES3 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

A discussion on the effect on the speech of New Zealanders of American talking pictures took placo in the Legislative Council to-day. The Hon. G. M. Thomson moved that the Government be asked to tako into consideration tho desirability of establishing a censorship of "talkie" pictures, with tho object of preserving the purity of the English spoken language, and at the samo time consider the question of checking as far as possible the presence of unattended children at cinema entertainments.

The Hon, J. B. Gow seconded the motion.

The Hon. W. Earnshaw urged, as a more practical measure, that tho quota of English films should be increased. Tho Hon. J. Barr did not see great danger in children being influenced by American speech, but ho considered stricter censorship of films and posters was necessary.

Tho Hon. G. J. f'filarid advocated greater encouragement of British films. The Leader of tho Council, tho Hon. T. K. Sidey, said it was not considered practicable to establish a censorship of talkies for technical reasons. Tho law did not provide power to enable tho matter to be dealt with. It v/as doubtful, too, whether it would be possible to check tho attendanco of children at picture shows. Ho felt sure tho Government would do everything possible to encourage British films, and ho promised to submit tho resolution to his colleagues with a view to seeing if it would bo possible to incrcnso the percentago of British films for exhibition in New Zealand. Tho motion was amended by the mover to urge the Government to increase tho percentage of tho qifota in favour of British films and in that form the motion was carried unanimously