NATIONAL SERVICE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20785, 21 April 1939, Page 2

NATIONAL SERVICE

CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN FILM STARS CO-OPERATE (Times Air Mall Service) LONDON, March 23 As part of a big National Service drive, the Government are recruiting the British film industry—stars, cinema owners and producers—to help them in “putting over” their campaign to the public, says, the film correspondent of an English paper. A special department has been created at the Ministry of Labour, under Mr Bryan Wallace (son of Edgar Wallace), who has been appointed Film Advisor to National Service. He is well known in the film business as a scenario writer. Use of Forces “I am to be an Ideas man for the : Government," said Mr Wallace to me to-day. "I want ideas for using our cinema screens to explain National Service to the people and to increase I recruiting to these services. I “My job is to assist producers who want to make films of a national service character. I can help the newsreel people to get the use of the ; naval, military and air forces. ! “I am to provide ideas for films made by Government departments, though I shall not interfere with the present production organisations qf I the various departments. They Must Be Good ‘‘l am persuading famous stars and , well-known writers and producers to ; give their services. I “The response from the film trade is excellent. Cinemas are going to ; show the films—and I Insist that , every film in our scheme must be entertainment as well as propaganda. | “Already the cinemas of the country have done much good work in ! lending their screen to local organ- ; isers of A.R.P. and National Service. “Now we want to make these services cover the whole country.”