CARE OF THE CHILD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 4

CARE OF THE CHILD.

INFLUENCE OF PICTURES. RESTRICTIONS URGED. LEGISLATION PROPOSED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The andeisirafoility of children of tender age being permitted to attend ’picture shows unless accompanied by a guardian or unless the films have specially censored and passed for ex '* hibition before juveniles, was raised by a deputation from the women’s branch of the New Zealand labour Party, which waited on the Minister for Justice (Hon. C. J. Parr) to-day in regard to the passing of social legislation. Mrs. Gualter said tlve deputation desired that something should be done by the Government in regard to the attendance of children at picture <hows, and they suggested that a portion of the theatre be set apart by the management of theatres for unattended children. While in Melbourne recently she attended an entertainment for children in the aquarhim and she noticed that s.ich accommodation was reserved for unattended children to prevent them from being crushed by adults and from interference.

The Minister: “Gan you suggest some way to ensure that attended children get the right sort of picture to look at?”

Mrs. Gualter agreed that was a very difficult question. The Minister said that many parents were very foolish in allowing children of tender years to attend picture shows. The trouble was that children were taken there by their father and mother and one could not interfere. The picture theatre proprietors were anxious to help and he did not blame them. Mrs. Gualter admitted that a great many of the pictures shown were not fit for children to see. The Minister said there were some pictures which excited the imagination of a child such as some of those wretched American films depicting cowboy “stunts,” etc., which was the worst kind of material for a child’s imagination. He said that the remarks made by the deputation were entirely justified, and though he held rather strong views about children attending picture idiows his difficulty was to get anything done under the existing law. He had been looking into the matter, and it was provided in draft legihlation that it should not be lawful for a child below the age of thirteen to enter a picture theatre l>et\veen fl p-m. and 10 p.m. From the point of view of physical health alone children would be far better at home. After the passing of the Bill he referred to no child under’ sixteen would be allowed to enter a picture theatre unless al pictures had been certified by the censor as suitable for exhibition before children. Mrs. Snow: ‘“You ought to appoint?

women censors.'’ Mr. Parr: “I agree that there should b? a woman cf discretion on the oin, worship board/’