PICTURE SHOWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 1

PICTURE SHOWS

ALLEGED DEMORALISING- TENDENCY. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH. July 8. At last nights meeting of tfie Bangiora Borough Council a letter was read, from tho Revs. F P. Pendail and T. Miller and Mr T. W. Ambrose • (headmaster of tho Bangiora school), Mr W. B. Borthwick (neadmaster of tho Southbrook school), and Mr T. E. Cresswell (principal of the Bangiora high senool), strongly condemning the character of the turns exhibited at the Coronation picture show in the town, to which school children were admittedo free. Three of the firms, 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 farreaching, and would do more than any other pernicious agency towards the degradation of the morals of the rising generation. It was earnestly urged that such steps should be taken by the council as might effectively prevent the exhibition of objectionable and harmful turns in the public halls of the town; and further, bearing in mind the widespread use of picture entertainments throughout tho country, they strongly urged that the Government should be approached on the matter with a view bo 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 to do all that lay in their power to prevent the pernicious effects of picture shows. The Maybr 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 tho Dominion to move in tho same direction. As the outcome of a long discussion it was resolved to hold a public meeting to initiate a movement against the exhibition of pictures of a demoralising tendency. .