HARMFUL PICTURES

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14584, 5 February 1921, Page 5

HARMFUL PICTURES

DRASTIC CENSORSHIP

THE MINISTER'S FIRM BTAND

CRIMINAL INFLUENCE MUST GO

(by Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday.

A deputation from the Films Renters' Association met the -Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. J. G. Anderson, yesterday, relative to the censorship question. Mr E, J. Highton, for the deputation, expressed surprise at the presence ol press representatives, and the Minister replied that some film people bad made statements to the papers, and he wanted the people to hear botli sides of the question. The Minister informed the deputation that there had been many agitations for an improvement in the quality of the pictures screened, and a considerable improvement had been noted, but there was still current a class of film depicting crime, which was leading to crime in thio country. "The Government," said Mr Anderson, "at my suggestion, has come to the conclusion that this low class of pictures of American shysters and crooks, and all that sort of thing lias got to go. When a boy sees them. If he fs at all inclined that way, he is very likely to go off the rails." The Importers are getting three months' grace. Pictures will be heavily censored during that time, and thereafter it will be no use importing them. The Government might have stopped them at once, but instead it hud Riven dealers this concession, lie invited the co-operation of the dealers in putting out harmful picture?.