THEATRES KEEP MEN FROM THE ARMY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11108, 28 December 1916, Page 5

THEATRES KEEP MEN FROM THE ARMY.

GEN. SMITH-DORRIEN’S GRAVE CHARGES. SPREAD OP DISEASE a In the courge of an address at the Aldwych Club on “Undesirable Stage Performances,*’ General Sir H. Stnith-Dorrieu, D. 5.0., who is conducting a campaign against • revues and cinemas, made the grave accusation that the theatircal pofession’s lax morals are responsible for beeping a large number of men out of the fighting line. General Smith-Uorrieu said that when he started bis campaign t:he did not expect to create much interest, and he felt gratified with "the enormous amount of support he had received. What induced nim originally to take up the campaign was the fact that large numbers of men ' had been prevented from taking their places iu the fighting line by a preveutible disease, and this was becoming very serious.. He rover bad bad the smallest intention of attacking' the theatrical world as a whole. He fully realissd that our bast theatres were managed by men who insisted on keeping a high tone, and who had already done an enormous amount for the purity of the stage. What he claimed was that on a certain few stages there were allowed indecent performances, which directly produced immorality. The main portion of his charge referred to mnsic halls revnes, cinema halls, and printed matter.

General Smith-Dorrien wont on to say that the state of affairs in cinema and on the films was really very serious. “I have evidence from all parts,” he said, “that the evils and wickedness in some of these cinema balls are of a very serious and' detrimental charactre. I have also gathered that the cinema halls and music balls in the provinces are considerably worse £han they are in London.” “People who have criticised me, have, on ttie whole, been very , kind. ’’ continued the general, “but there was one the other clay who wrote: “Though Smith-was undoubtedly a good fighter, he did not make a name on the field of battle, and he must not be allowed to correct that omission at the expense of the theatres aud halls. ” Ido not mind that remark, but what pozzies me is where the writer got bis information from. He must think 1 am a fighter In the ring. “Immorality is a weed impossible to stamp oat,” went on the general. “Why should we encourage its growth and help it to undermino the stamina of the Empire? __ This low tone of which I complain is directly affecting the standard of respect for women, and this at n time when the war lias shown us womanhood in her true light. ” The general added that he was puzzled as to how td reedy matters; If we could get.a strong and continuous pressure of public opinion, he said, reforms might be brought about. It was perfectly apparent that the problem waa a very difficult one to solve, but he was convinced that the censor might do a great ■ deal more thau he did, if be was only encouraged and felt that public opiuiou wanted stronger treatment by the censor.