YOUTHS AND PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1449, 25 May 1912, Page 6

YOUTHS AND PICTURES.

A SCHOOL INSPECTOR'S VIEWS. {By Tolccrarli.—l'rws Association.) Auckland, May 24. Porno remarks nifti'o by Judge, ami counsel at l-ho crimiiml sittings of tho Su- ! jirciiip Court .vesl prrla.v concerning tho | iiced for .some sort of censorship being exercised over moving picture films, borniiso su" tho baneful influence of a ccrf«in cln'-s of films upon the youthful mind, were referred to leading educational nu'llioi-itic; for their opinions by a reporter this morning. , The- Cliii'f Inspector of Puobc Sonoola (Mr. K. K. Mulga'u) Enid that to his mind i hero was no doubt that 'cinematograph films as presented at moving pieturo I houses contained a groat deal of educational, value if the proper class of pictures wore- used. "But tho question is," said Mr. Mulgan, "whether (lift advantages are not counterbalanced by the drawljacks. Undoubtedly children, attending theso entertainments are required to witness a good deal that is neither educating nor improving, end a good deal, moreover, that they cannot possibly comprehend." It had been urged as an objectionable feature, ho said, that tho necessity for attendance at school or at place.* of employment during tho day. lime made it impossible for youths to witness picture shows to any extent except at night-time, when they would be much better at -home. It might be trao that children frequently went to theso places with their parents, but it was equally truo that they often found their way there, alone, arid were obliged to return home when opportunities for getting into mischief were by no moans wanting. "It has been pointed out," said Mr. Mulgan, "that tho films depicting tho doings of bushrangers have had tlie effect of unsettling the minds of hoys, and caasinff them to act in such ways us to become serious menaces to Hie community." Tk's kind of picture resembled the class of literature known as "Deadwood Dick" in influencing easily led. youths to emulate questionable examples. He thought that children who frequently attended pictures would spend too much time thinking about what they had seen instead of attending to their lessons botli at homo and school. Ho had thought about tho question of censorship and commended the proposal to favourable consideration.