INFERIOR FILMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22983, 10 March 1938, Page 16

INFERIOR FILMS

CENSORSHIP NEEDED EFFECT ON YOUNG PEOPLE SUGGESTION BY MAGISTRATE [BY TELEGBAFH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday A vigorous indictment of the effect of second rate foreign films on the minds of the young people of New Zealand was made at the national conference of New Zealand Justices of the Peace at New Plymouth this morning by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M. He recommended the conference should give serious consideration to tho question of film censorship, with a view to overcoming a serious social evil. "Is it desirable that the youth of the community, when they go out for entertainment at night, should be transported into an unreal country where very low standards of life are held up: J " he asked, when dealing with a certain class of film. "Money is shown as a god, gunmen as heroes, love is debased and the ideal of womanhood is represented by grimacing hussies." Mr. Woodward said that an entirely falso impression of life and citzenship was given by sob stuff being alternated with false heroics. This could not possibly be for the good of young lxjople, and he thought a much stricter censorship of films was required to ensure that such pictures were not represented as ideals for the youth of New Zealand. It might be said, in fact he was certain it would be said, that the justices should mind their own business, and this was outside their scope. He refuted any such Justices of the peace were also citizens, and as such they were entitled to take a full interest in the welfare of the community. An assurance was given to Mr. Woodward that the importance of the subject -was fully appreciated, and that after the order paper had been dealt with the conference would discuss the matter fully and do all in its power to remedy the present state of affairs.