CENSORSHIP OF FILMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18651, 21 August 1930, Page 9

CENSORSHIP OF FILMS.

Colonial Committee’s Report. EDUCATIONAL SIDE STRESSED. British Official Wireless RUGBY, August 18. The report of the Colonial Films Committee has been issued. The Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir William Brass, M.P., was appointed in March. 1929, by Mr L. C. M. S. Amerv who was then Secretary of the Colonies “to examine the arrangements existing for the supply and censorship of cinematograph films for public exhibition in the Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories, and to consider in what way these arrangements could be improved.” There have also been issued the findings of the Colonial Office Conference on the Committee’s report and the dispatch for the Colonial Secretary to the Administrations of the Colonies Protectorates, and Mandated Territories, indicating the action which it was proposed to take The Committee's report suggests various practical measures by which plant can be installed and experiments begun with a view to developing the use of the cinematograph as an instrument of education. The Colonial Office Conference emphasises the importance of the use of the film in education, especially with primitive peoples, and not only for children but also for adults. As regards the supply of British films, the Committee points out that at present the market in the Colonial Empire is largely dominated by foreign films. It calls the attention to the possibility that in certain directions the market may expand rapidly. For example, therp are only 38 cinemas in British territory in tropical Africa, though the population is approximately 36,000,000. The Committee calls attention to the importance of taxing steps now in order that the British industry may get a footing in, this market. It accordingly suggests the creation of a small central organisation at London under the auspices of the Federation of British Industries to act as a centre for the supply of British films. A small Government guarantee is suggested during the initial year of the operation of the Supervisory Board for this organisation. On the question of censorship, the Committee points out the danger of demoralising films. It suggests certain measures for stiffening the local censorship arrangements and also suggests that the proposal for a Central Censorship Board ih London of all films going to tropical Africa should be carefully examined in the Colonial Office. The Committee points out, however, that apart from the negative aspect of censorship the positive aspect of fostering a supply of good films must also be considered.