FILMS SHOWN TO ABORIGINALS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 22 October 1927, Page 15

FILMS SHOWN TO ABORIGINALS.

DISCRIMINATION URGED. EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION. (bt cable—fbbss association—coitbight.) (austbalian and *.js. cabll association. SYDNEY, October 21. Before the Films Commission, Mr J. Beckett, former Chief Inspector, of Aborigines, pointed out the danger' of allowing Australian aboriginals and natives in the mandated territories to attend picture shows where no . discrimination was shown in the choice of programmes. They saw the 'white man and woman, robbing, murdering, warring, lying, getting drunk, and committing every sin and crime possible, without being punished. The films rarely showed punishment, though they inferred it, and the aboriginals wondered why they should not be allowed to do the same as the white man. He had . closely studied the native mind, and had come to the conclusion that the films were detrimental to them. Pictures could be made a power for their uplift The primitive mind was not untrained,, for it bad been directed by tribal teaching and discipline to observe the operations of Nature in its various phases. They were usually imitative ' and their memories were retentive. He had known many instances where they had committed offences that hfd been suggested by pictures. They should not be allowed to see any pictures except those selected for them,, and these should be comics or informative films without any sex appeal.