"STRATFORD EVENING POST” THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1928. CENSORSHIP.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 85, 5 July 1928, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST” THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1928. CENSORSHIP.

IT is stated that there is a probability of 1 a. system of censorship cl film posters. modelled on that of Australia, being put into operation shortly. Thus Mr Tanner is to have other worries attached to his office as censor of films, and .judging by the wide variety of posters seen about* the country he is going to have a ' hard task. We do not deny that there may ho,some need at times f°r ■ controlling certain posters that »ro displayed but there are vejy isstances brought to light, 'there is always a spice of the ridiculous, about all forms of censorship. Examples of this can be quoted in regard to film censorship, a notable) i case being a big film screened a I* the local theatre recently. Tha version shown here was made quite different, by tb e alteration of sub) titles, from that shown in Smith 1 Africa, America and England. A man parted from bis wife and went off with another, eventually aftei many tribulations returning straight and narrow path. But “sister” was substituted for J ‘wile” out here and also Wc think,"in Australia the, result being a state of affairs that only .avoided being mdiculoug

by tlie very spectacular nature ot! the film itself. There could noti have been any danger to public morals by the .exhibition of the picture in its original form and the same ap. plies to many others. Alter all a censorship is (ho opinion or one man, and there is always the chance that what lx© may think questionable, may not bo similarly viewed by other- people and vice vensa. r l bo censor’s task is a hard one and nn. der the circumstances the functions are being fulfilled as well as can ho expected without any additional responsibilities being added. Again those whose office it is to censor literatme imported into-the Dominion have perpetrated isome queer pranks ax, times. Art.productions and literary efforts cannot be regarded in. quite the same light as orner commodities. The censorship of plays in Great Britain has also been tno cause of much heart-burning, and the authorities have on numerous occasions looked more than a little foolish as a result of, no doubt, well meant intentions. But to return to the film poster censorship business. Posters are uot now imported from America in any considerable number, the majority being prepared in Australia, where a censorship is already

in vogue. In any ease o' late complaints against cinema- posters have nob been many and there is_very little that can ho field, to he objectionable in those displayed. film, people themselves run their business on a very high level and are not in the habit of putting out posters likely to offend good taste. The censor should be permitted to concentrate oh his main job without the addition of work that is not really necessary. :