CINEMA PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2605, 29 October 1915, Page 3

CINEMA PICTURES

THE COUNCIL ON THE, FILM

CENSORSHIP URGED

Cinema films were discussed by tho Wellington City Council last evening. One of the committees of the council reported: "That tlioy liavo received a circular lotter from the Now Zealand Catholic Federation, asking tlie council to co-operate with them in urging tho Government to establish a stricter censorship over kinematograph films. The committee have to state they are in complete accord with the recommendation, and they liavo previously taken action in the matter by representation to the Municipal Conference, urging that legislation be passed, and they have uoiv to recommend that action bo taken to further the desires of the council."

The Mayor said that tlie council should have some control over the picture films shown in the city. He hoped tlie federation's request would be unanimously acceded to.Councillor J. Hntolteson said that ho was in accord with the request, and he believed that the community as a whole wero indebted to the Federation for bringing the matter forward.- However, ho regretted that no definite lino of action was specified. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that he had seen nothing on the picture screens to call for such a drastic step. If there was censorship, it must be a Dominion affair, not a- district affair. Councillor A. Veitch expressed the opinion that the council should go further than was suggested. , Councillor Hutcheson stated a wish to make-his position clear. The com.munity had to look to the standard of ethics, and they had to realise that, in some of the pictures we were getting the standard of the gutters of New York. Criminals were glorified, and so on. Wholesome. and useful pictures should be, shown.

Councillor Bush asked if it_ was not a fact that the police, authorities censored films already. Tho Mayor: I don't think so. We just accept what is sent here. Councillor Atkinson: s There was a time when t'ho only foster-mother of orphaned children was the police, and ( say 1 that a policeman is about as.-fit to be a censor of films as he is to be a foster-mother. • It is ridiculous to suggest the police as censors. Are we to wait till • there, has been a breach of tho Police Offences Act before, we take action ? Such a _position is ludicrous I Councillor Atkinson said that films wore shown which should not be put before children. He had on one occasion covered a- child's eyes in a picture show, and a friend's child had on another occasion asked to be taken outi to. escape from a certain picture. Ho thought the Catholic Federation deserved thanks for taking action in the matter.

Councillor J.-E. Fitzgerald said'that the Federation was not against wholesome films, but against films/harmful to the child' mind.; The question was: "Are we to accept the New York standard of morality as ours?"

A councillor: That is it! Councillor Fitzgerald: I should say wo should not/. (Hear, hear.) ;Tho Mayor said that on the day on which the committee had the Catholic Federation's letter before it, an advertisement of a certain film appeared, and the nature of that advertisement was such that it'seemed practically an indication that' it was necessary to support the Federation without delay;'Tho council resolved to co-operate with the Catholic.Federation,( ; :_and appointed Councillor Hutcliesonits delegate. . -