FILMS AND THE CHILD CONFERENCE HELD

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9210, 2 December 1915, Page 2

FILMS AND THE CHILD

CONFERENCE HELD

KINEAIAXOGRAPH CENSORSHIP CALLED FOR. DEPUTATION TO YY'AIT ON AIINISTER. A very representative conference ol delegates from local, educational, and social welfare bodies, convened by the Now Zealand Catholic Federation, was held Patrick’s Hail last night to consider the question of the censorship of kinematograph films. The delegates present were : Education Board Representatives. — Alessrs William Allan and C. AI. Luke (Wellington), H. Hill, U.A., F.R.S. (Hawke’s Bay), Alexander Ball (South Canterbury), Hon. J. G., YY'. Aitken (North Canterbury), and Professor Garrow* (Otago). Education institute Representatives. —Aliss Dowdeswell (North Canterbury), Alessrs J. C. Webb (Wellington), H. A. Parkinson (New Zealand Institute), C. N. Haslam, B.A. (Nelson), AErskmo (Taranaki), and Grundy (Otago). Representatives of city and borough councils. —Ashburton, Air Nosworthy, ALP.; Feilding, Councillor Frost (tor Mayor of YVellington); Hawera, Air J.' G. YY’. Aitken; Hastings, the Aiayor (Air YY’. Hart); Karon, tiie Aiayor (Air B. G. H. Burn); Lower Hutt, the Aiayor (Air H. Baldwin); Aliramar, Councillor James . Pollock; Napier, Councillor J. H. iSheath p Onslow, Councillor L. A. Browne; P'almerston North, Councillor F. Jackson; Patea, Councillor Frost (for Aiayor of YVellington); Petone, Councillor A. Anderson; Temuka, Mr A. Bell (Education Department) ; Wanganui, Councilor A. Thompson; Wellington, Councillor J. Hutcheson; YVairoa, Air J. Duggan; YVuimato, Air W. E. Johnson; Rajigiora, Mr-.h. T. Reichcl; Marten, Councillor Frost (for the Aiayor of Wellington); Pahiatua, Councillor Hildreth; YY’aihi, Atr W. H. Phillips. Other bodies represented—Church of England Alen’s .’Society, Mr J. Snell; Young Men’s Christian Association Air William. Allan; , V onns Women’s Christian Association, Mt» Alary AlcLean. M.A,; Women’s Cto’ l *- thin Temperance Union, Airs J-civ-ilian; Richmond Kindergarten Union,. Mrs Anderson; Moral and 1 hysical. Health Society, Dr Huntley p Society ■ for Protection of Women and Children,; Mesuames McLax’cn and Atkinson ; Bccnadary School Teachers’ Assistants Association, Mr E. Martyn Reunei , VY’cllington Diocesan Council N.Z.CFederation. Air A, Cassie; Dominion Executive N.Z. Catholic Federation, Messrs Burke. Duggan, and GirlingButcher. The Taranaki. Nelson, YVcstlaua, ana. Southland . Education Boards had, m addition; expressed themselves as m sympathy with the objects of the con-; ierence; as also did the Auckland,: Canterbury, and Southland Education: Institutes, and the following city and: borough councils;—Auckland, Birkenhead, Brunner, Blenheim, , Carterton,, Devonport, Dunedin, EUetahuna, Gisborne,. Gore, Greyiuoutli, Greytown. Hamilton, Hokitika, Invercargill, Alavlbovough, Oamaru, Port Chalmers, Taihape, Taumarunui'; Timaru, Wan pa.wa, YY’estport, Alonnt Eden. - Air J. J. L. Burke (chairman ot* the Dominion Executive of the N.Z., Catholic Federation) called the meeting to order, and welcomed the delegates, and in doing so gave a brief review of the action Ho iedcraUon had taken in the matter. The fcdei.ition, he said, had been m existence* about three years, and during that time they-had had a number of corn, plaints'brought before them in regard to films exhibited at various halls' throughout . the Domifnon. Those that were offensive from the PU'nY ° view of their own religion the federation had itself taken up with the man--■mers of the kinematograph shows, concerned, and in practically _ every ‘case they had been wclL received, ana the offensive features objected to hadbeen removed. THE SOCIAL AND AIORAL ASPECTS. Other complaints, however, hfid to do with the broader moral and .-mcira aspects of tho question. This they, had taken up by a deputation to the Alinister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. YV’. Russell) , in August last who gave them a very'sympathetic hearing and expressed the opinion ’that-some-thing in the nature of a censorship ol films was necessary. Pho federation after that circularised _ the various local bodies of tho Dominion and the various organisations interested in tho moral and social welfare of the people, and they had met with such strong sympathy and support for then* suggestion that a picture-show censorship should bo set up that they had determined to call the present conference to press their proposal upon the powers that be. (App arise.) He beartilv welcomed the delegates, and invited them to ' appoint a chairman for the conference. AIAYOR OF YY’ELLINGTON HEARTILY SUPPORTS. Councillor Hutcheson moved that Councillor George Frost be elected to the chair, as he represented at the meeting the Aiayor of YY’ellingtou (Mr J P. Lukoi, who was away m Auckland ‘ and therefore unable to he pre--cnt‘ Tho Alavor had been nominated to represent Patea, Feilding, Hastings, and Nelson at the conference, and as no unavoidably could not attend, he had followed the usual course of askin* T a senior councillor to take his place. The motion was carried unanimously. . The Aiayor sent a telegram ot apology, and heartily wished the meeting every; success- Councillor Fitzgerald also telegraphed his apologies and nominated Councillor Hildreth to take his place. Air Alartin . Rennor (secretary of the School Teachers’_ Association) wrote apologising for his absence because of the examinations being on. and assured the conference that his association was heartily in sympathy with the object they had in view. POLICE REPORT (FURNISHED. Councillor Frost, who was received with apnlause, said that the Alinister for Internal Affairs had as a result of the representations made to him asked the Commissioner of Police to 'furnish him with a report upon the matter. That report was now to hand, and would no doubt bojaid before the Cabinet. Tho Commissioner

bad advised that the police were powerless to do anything to with the evil until further legislation had taken place. He, the chairman, hoped that as a result of that day’s conference the Government would shortly bring down a measure establishing the censorship which they believed to be so necessary. Mr Burke then moved, in a sympathetic speech, the following resolution:—“That this conference of local governing bodies, educational authorities, and organisations concerned with the social welfare of the people of this Dominion, whilst fully appreciating the useful and educational value of the kinematograph, is of opinion that the class of moving pictures at present exhibited in New Zealand constitucs a grave danger to the morar health and social welfare of the community, and affirms the necessity for a strict supervision by the Government of all films exhibited to the public in the picture theatres of this Dominion, and requests that an officer or board be' appointed, whose duty it shall bo to inspect all films before they are allowed to be exhibited, and that ’eve ry film so licensed shall bear a certificate signed to that effect, and, further, that a list of all films declared to be unsuitable be published weekly in the ‘Police Gazette,’ and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Minister for Internal Affairs, with a request that legislation be introduced to give effect to the same at the earliest possible opportunity.” AX INVETERATE PICTURE-GOER. Councillor Hutcheson, who seconded the resolution, confessed to being an inveterate attendant at picture shows. He recognised to the full their educational value, but he protested against the fact that in order to see educational pictures, beautiful scenery, pictures dealing with their industries, etc., he had. to sit through others that reproduced for the picture-goers, many of whom were children at the most plastic and impressionable stage of their lives, films representing the crime, and the filth and foulness of the worst quarters of Now York, Chicago, and other big cities. (Hear, bear.) It was sometimes asked, why could they not leave the matter to the English censors, to the American censors, or tq the police?. But the pictures of which lie complained had already passed the English or thp American censors; and as for the police, as had been well said, the police at one time Had been tho official foster-mothers, the legal foster-mothers, of orphan children, anc| they were just as fitted to be , fostermothers as they were tc be censors .of kinematograph films. (Applause and laughter.) The films might’ be made a great educational power. It should bo their aim to turn the films from the devil’s purposes to God’s, without, of course, spoiling legitimate sport and .amusement. (Applause.) EVIL EFFECTS ON'CHILDREN. Mrs A, R, „Atkinson. .strongly supported the resolution. There was, she declared, urgent need for a censorship of • kinematograph films, and sbo thought -that they, should 'have women on tho censorship board as well as men. The men did not know how certain pictures affected children. Take, for example, divorce picture*?, portraying incidents that had a piost unfortu-. nato influence on young minds. She had hoard again and again of children who had suffered ffpjn nightmares for weeks -after- seeing the horrible and ghastly pictures sometimes exhibited. They had also had the sad case of A boy who had been killed through hanging himself in trying to do a trick ho had seen at the pictures; and cases whore other children had been killed or seriously injured. Then, again, the clandestine love’ scenes so often depicted had a most unfortunate effect upon the vising generation, destroying their innate ideas of the dignity and purity- . of . . love. (Applause.) She thought that the motion, ought to ho conveyed to the Minister by a deputation of gentlemen who would make him see that there was a very deep and wide psychological objective to these things. (Applause.) Dr Huntly, representing tho Moral' and Physical Health Society of New Zealand, also spoke very seriously and feelingly of the evil effect that pictures such as those referred to by Mrs Atkinson had upon the children. A TEACHER DISGUSTED., , ■ Mr J. C. Webb, representing the; Wellington District Teachers’ In-; stitute, said that he' believed; the conference, iu emphasising the need for safeguarding the; children, were tackling the matter at tho right end. He. had visited picture show|s perhaps even more frequently than Councillor Hutcheson, and he could bear out all that ho had said. He himself hqd walked out in disgust because of a film recently, shown in Wellington illustrating the! orgies of the old Roman times. Messrs Duggan, C. M. Luke, A, Thompson, W. F. Johnson, B. G. Ben-: nett.. Professor Harrow,. the Hon. J. G. W. Aitkon, Miss Mary McLean, M.A., Miss Dowdeswell, and others strongly supported the . resolution. ; NOT KILL-JOYS. - Mr Johnson emphasised the fact that they did not want to deprive the people >of one hour of reasonable amusement, but the picture shows, as at present conducted were a menace to tho moral and social welfare of the people, and especially harmful to the young, and they dared not neglect their clear duty of doing what they could to remedy nia tiers. (Applause.) Hie Hon. J. G. W. Aitken suggested that the deputation should wait upon the Minister for Education as well as upon the Minister for Internal Affairs, for their movement was clearly in the interests of the children. (Applause.) PICTURE-SHOW POSTERS ALSO CONDEMNED. Mrs Anderson, of the Richmond Kindergarten Union, spoke strongly on tho matter from the point of view of the smaller children, and called attention to the many pictures on the hoardings of the pictuffe halls had upon the little ones, even those who dio uot go to the .pictures, an influence only less deleterious "than that of the films themselves. (Applause.) Councillor A. Anderson, of Petone. said they should not be content with a Ministerial promise to “keep the matter steadily in view.” They must see this thing through for the sake of the children. (Applause?) The • resolution was carried unanimously and with acclamation. The chairman said that the Minister for Internal Affairs had intimated to the secretary that he would be prepared to receive a deputation at 11 o’clock this morning if the conference so desired. On the motion of the Hon. J. G. W. A’tken it was resolved that all the delegates present should wait as a deputation upon the Minister at the time appointed, and Mrs Atkinson and Messrs Burke, Hutcheson, and Webb were appointed as the' speakers. On the motion of the chairman tho

Hon. J. G. W. Aitken was requested to introduce the deputation. A deputation will probably wait upon the Minister for Education upon his return to Wellington. Mr William Allan moved and Mr liA. Parkinson seconded a very hearty vote of -thanks , to. the Catholic Federation for the action they had taken in tlie matter. The resolution was carried amid loud applause, and a hearty vote of thanks to'the chairman closed the proceedings.