PHOTOGRAPHIC BAN WARNING TO AMATEURS

Southland Times, Issue 24593, 15 November 1941, Page 6

PHOTOGRAPHIC BAN WARNING TO AMATEURS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 14. Photographers today received a pointed warning to exercise increasing care in the choice of subjects. The authorities administering the Photographic Emergency Regulations 1939 again emphasize the importance of strict observance both in the letter and the spirit of the regulations, which were designed primarily to prevent the possibility of valuable information reaching the enemy. Minor breaches of these regulations have been committed recently, and while they may not appear important to an individual offender, it is necessary to insist on absolute compliance. The photographing of certain subjects is expressly forbidden except when done by a person authorized and who holds a permit under the regulations. Tire prohibited subjects include, especially, ships and defence posts and areas. It stated that if an amateur photographer has any doubt whatever about whether any point in a harbour or near a defence area may be photographed he will find it much less dangerous to secure information from official quarters before exposing a film on the subject. The chief difficulty in administering the regulations has been experienced with amateur photographers, since the professional knows the regulations, but this intimation may be taken as a warning that evasions of the regulations will in future be firmly dealt with.