A PICTURE MAN’S PROTEST

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

A PICTURE MAN’S PROTEST

WHY NOT A STATE MONOPOLY? ‘-‘There may be sonjhthing to he said dh favour of a censorship of kinematograph films, but Heaven preserve us from having the work done by a board of ‘old women 5 and kili-joys, said a well-known picture show proprietor yesterday, in referring to tuo conference. “I am quite willing to adfnis that, some of the films widen, have found their way on to New Zealand screens should not have been shown, before audiences consisting largely of young people. Every picture manager has ibis troubles in that respect under a system that requires him to receive films on trust. Put the sort of censorship we want is a healthy ..public opinion, jiot the ruling of a policeman, or a clergyman, or even a magistrate. “The New Zealand public, as a matter of fact, does' not crave for films of a doubtful or unpleasant character. The people here like scenic films, which are rather resented by Australian audiences, and they nearly always reserve their applause for a picture that is beautiful and artistic. They like films dealing with industrial and scientific subjects, and, in my experience, they are usually. pleased with the sort of picture I should like my own children to see. When a bad film gets into circulation here it is rather by accident than design, foi the managers do not feel that they have to cater for low tastes. “Ooes New Zealand get all the good films that are placed upon the markets in Britain and America? Not by a very long way. That leads me to the point. The importation of films into New Zealand ii done by a few large firms, which lease the pictures to the actual showmen. Some of the firms have their own circuits, of course, but the majority of the picture theatres are hirers of films. The responsibility for selection, then, is really in the hands of a few men engaged in the import business, and

these men are in a position to impose any.sort of censorship that is required. It is a fact that -they do not bring to this country many of tho best educational films. They have loft out of their lists, too, many notable films that have bad a great vogue elsewhere —historical incidents, dramatisations of famous books and so onA censorship would not bring those films to New Zealand. “My suggestion—not a now one —is this: Let the Government take hold of tho picture business. The kinomatograph film is ,going to bo the greatest education factor, for good or for bad, in this country and every other country. The supply of good films already " is almost overwhelming, as trade catalogues will show. It is in;th* highest interests of the State that the people should be well served in this respect. The State could constitute itself the sole importer of films, and lease them to the showmen, if it did, not care to run the whole business. The scheme would pay for itself and return a profit as well, and it would ensure that only tho best films came to New Zealand. 55