FILM CENSORSHIP

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9211, 3 December 1915, Page 6

FILM CENSORSHIP

DEMAND FOR CLEAN PICTURES A DEPUTATION TO HON. G. W. RTJbSELL. MINISTER PROMISES LEGISLATION. Yesterday a deputation consisting of a large body of ladies and gentlemen waited upon the lion. G. W. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs, to place before him the views of the conference held on the previous evening with regard to censorship of kinematograph films. The purpose of the deputation was explained by the following letter, which was handed to the Minister by the chairman of the conference. Councillor G. Frost: — “I have the honour to hand you herewith a copy of a resolution adopted by a conference held last evening at St. Pat. rick’s Hall, Wellington. In order to put the question plainly before you, it is necessary to as briefly as possible'explain the steps taken, which have led to the assembling of this conference. "The executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation are of opinion that many of the films at present exhibited are of a demoralising nature, that scenes dealing with conjugal infidelities, the operations of burglars and criminals, the disgusting vice of intemperance depicted os a matter of humour and merriment, and the many pictures which are to the last degree suggestive, are quite unfit to bo exhibited before children and young persons of either sex. The federation decided to ascertain whether its views on the subject were shared by the leading men of New Zealand. It was accordingly decided to communicate with every city and borough council in the Dominion, together with the Education Boards, Education institutes and a number of other recognised bodies interested in the social and moral welfare of the community. In the first communication a request was made, if the federation's views were approved. that a letter be forwarded to yourself as Minister for Internal Affairs, requesting that legislation be introduced to secure adequate Government censorshin of picture films. “The response to the letter was of so encouraging a nature that the federation decided to call together a conference of delegates from tho local and other bodies previously communicated with, which conference took place last evening, and over which I had the honour of being elected chairman. You will note that this movement is entirely unsectarian in its nature, no invitations having been issued to the various churches to take action, but at the meetings, synods and assemblies of several denominations resolutions approving tho action of the federation have been unanimously adopted. “It is a movement originating amongst laymen, and, as will be apparent from the attached schedules, it has the wholehearted support of the people’s elected representatives throughout the Dominion. Amongst those who have spoken strongly upon the matter will be found some of the most prominent business men in the cities and boroughs, while many of the leading educationalists and those in a position to understand the evil effect of some of the films shown upon the minds of the younger generation have spoken in no uncertain manner in their condemnation. “It has been ascertained that in order to obtain the desired object it will lye necessary for amending legislation to be introduced, and, as you will perceive by the resolution subjoined, the conference resolved to ask you to submit such necessary amendment to the existing law at the earliest possible opportunity. . I am asked to express the hope that you will deal with this influentially supported resolution at an early date, forwarding a reply to the secretary of the conference in order that the Government’s decision may be communicated to each of the councils and other bodies who are interested.’’ A REPRESENTATIVE BODY. The deputation represented in all fortyfive different bodies, including local authorities, education boards, educational institutes and social organisations. The speakers were Mrs Atkinson, and Messrs J. J. L. Burke, J. Hutcheson and J. Costin W ebb. In the course of their remarks the speakers pointed out that the demand for the censorship of films did not come from what might be called a puritan or “wowser’’ class. No clergymen were included in the deputation. But parents and / teachers throughout the Dominion were realising that the free display of certain classes of films in halls that were patronised week after week by nearly all tho children was doing an enormous amount of moral and material injury to the young people. The children were being* made familiar with crime, acts of violence, sensuous love-making, scenes of marital infidelity and many other things that ought not to come within their range of vision at all in their tender years. Life was being presented to them in its coarse and vulgar aspects at the very time when their minds were most impressionable, and every teacher in the land knew that the effects were evil, sometimes disastrous. The Government, which had taken a good deal of pains to cheek the spread of pernicious literature, had a plain duty •to perform in ecejU-g that the picture entertainments provided in New Zealand were clean and wholesome. Special straw was laid on the fact that the proprietor of one of Wellington’s largest picture shows had refused to let his own children attend the entertainments he provided. THE MINISTER’S REPLY. The Minister, in reply, said that be realised tho very great importance of the subject. There was a mass of evidence that pictures were being shown which would have a harmful effect upon the temperament, the dispositions and the characters of the young people of the Dominion. Ho congratulated the Catholic Federation upon the success that had attended its efforts in the matter. Ihe federation had focussed a pre-existing public opinion, and had brought together a deputation that represented the whole of the Dominion. The question of a film censorship was not new to him. He had considered the matter when holding office in 1912, and since that time the Department of Internal Affairs had kept in touch with what was being done in the world in connection with the control and supervision of films. -Within recent months he had secured reports from police officers all over tho country, and ho could say that there was a consensus of opinion among the police that there was need for a censorship. LEGISLATION NEXT SESSION. “No Government, in view of the reports I have before me from the police officers, from commissioners down to constables in charge of small stations, can refuse to realise the importance ot this subject” added the Minister. “I recognise that censorship of cinema films is desirable ill New Zealand, and as Minister for Internal Affairs I am prepared to recommend my colleagues next session to bring down the necessary legislation to provide for it. From what I know of the constitution of the Government, realising that all the members of the Government are men who will take what 1 think is the proper view of this question I have no doubt that tin due course legislation will be proposed.” Mr Russell added that the details of the scheme would have to be the subject of very careful consideration. the censorship would have to be a central one each film coming under review before it had been shown m any part of New Zealand, and he felt that the censors should not be narrow-minded men. The films might be classified certain subjects being reserved fox adults alone. The deputation thanked the Minister for his sympathetic reply and withdrew.