Candid Comments

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 7, 1 November 1959, Page 5

Candid Comments

By Citizen

Recently several films were refused certificates of approval for screening, but it is regrettable that the Hoard did not uphold the Censor in some more of his objections. It seems high time that there was some reorganisation of the Film Appeal Hoard. The Censor does not reject a film or make cuts without good reason and is more in touch with general opinion than is the Appeal Board. Some appalling advertisements for films still appear in our papers. The films may not be as bad as these advertisements suggest, but their appeal is to the worst feelings of people and a recent midnight matinee in Wellington featured two fearsomesounding horror films.

If the Liquor Trade gains the concessions for which it is so vigorously pressing, a lot of the blame can surely he placed on the apathetic Christians of this country, as well as o.i the Government. The Minister of Health has stated that the economic and social consequences of alcoholism are so devastating that a determined effort must be made to control it He says that alcoholism is a serious public health problem. The National Society on Alcoholism is to receive substantial subsidies and information centres are being set up in various centres. Vet, Parliamentarians have said that facilities for the sale of alcoholic beverages should he increased. It is well to see that alcoholics are helped, but the Government appears to have no interest in the prevention of alcoholism in the first place, by encouraging total abstinence. That is left to Temperance societies, which struggle on with inadequate funds.

If the language used by the characters in some of the present-day novels i> an indication of what is being used in everyday life, it is on a pretty lowplane. In this respect there was not much to choose between the soldiers in a recently read novel regarding the Korean War, and the nurses in a story of life in a South African hospital. Is it true, that, as men and women speak, so are they? It is, if they speak as they think.

It is regrettable that some of the beekeepers want their wholesome, natural product turned into alcoholic drinks, mead and gin. A good advertising campaign w’ould soon increase sales and use of honey. It is a wholesome substitute for white sugar. Three English gin manufacturers, Seager Evans, Distillers, and Gilbeys are interested in the production of gin in N.Z. and when the proposed distillery in Auckland eventuates, one of these manufacturers proposes to produce vodka as well. Gin and vodka come from the same basic spirit, grain spirit. Gin is produced bv adding juniper berry chiefly. Treating the spirit to remove all flavour and smell produces vodka, a most dangerous drink. In U.S.A sales of vodka have increased alarmingly.

Liquor interests in vg ious countries are determined to seduce women—particularly the young, to acquire the alcohol habit. W r omen, invariably young

and glamorous, are being depicted handling liquor, saying “how heavenly” and “wonderful” it is. Of course, it is the woman “BEFORE” and not “AFTER” who is always pictured. Advertising is the life-blood of the Liquor trade. Much has been said of the dangers of subliminal advertising by which visual messages are flashed on screens, to be read subconsciously. On the agenda of the Methodist Conference of N.Z. is noted a protest in this connection. This form of advertising in connection with liquor could well have evil results.

The Dominion Chief Fire Officer, in a recent report, showed that next to domestic cookers, smokers came second in causing fire damage. Most of these fires came from negligent disposal of cigarette ends and ash, others from smoking in bed and from carelessly-thrown lighted matches. An increase is shown over the previous year’s figures. It would be difficult to asses the millions of pounds worth of damage and the lives lost through smokers’ carelessness throughout the world.

It is gratifying to note the objection raised by the N.C.W. Executive Conference to the poor type of serials broadcast in N.Z. Th*rc is r» great need to raise the moral tone of these serials with regard to the type of woman portrayed and the easy attitude to marriage and divorce. Here is a true incident in this connection. Some adults were listening to a seiial in which a married man was trying to persuade an unmarried girl to go away with him. A small child in the company suddenly remarked, “Isn’t he patr*nt with her?” It is often forgotten that children listen to many serials which should be for adult ears only.

A Comumer Council has been set up in N.Z. It is proposed now to have four Regional Councils and District Committees in connection with the Consumer Council. This could be a good opportunity for W.C.T.U. members to urge production of high grade fruit drinks, which would make good use of the abundant fruit this country produces. Some delicious drinks are produced in other countries and N.Z can learn a lot in this connection.