CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2630, 27 November 1915, Page 13

CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES

MOVEMENT NOT SECTARIAN

The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation is convening a conferenco of representatives of city and borough councils, education boards,' and institutes, and its owh branches to discuss the matter of the censorship of films. This conferenco is to be held in St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott Street, commencing at 8 p.m. on Wednesday next, December 1. It is anticipated that there will be a large and representative gathering. On the subject'set down for considera-' tion the secretary of the federation, Mr. Geo,- Girliiiq-Butcher, writes:— "The movement to urge on the Government the necessity of introducing legislation for the provision of adequate censorship of films has now assumed concrete form, and promises to be a pronounced success. The New Zealand Cathiolic Federation, which is primarily A lay body concerned in the civil and social ' interests of that community, has' long been of opinion that many of the kiuoma films exhibited are of a de- ■ moralising tendency, while others approach the Terge o! impropriety. After mature consideration the Dominion Executive of the Federation wrote to every city and borough council, each of the education- boards, educational and teachers' institutes, and also to a number of societies who work for the social welfare of the people generally. In this letter the necessity of adequate censorship was pointed out, and a. request made that each body receiving • the letter, should communicate with the Minister of Internal Affairs, requesting the Government to take the necessary action. Subsequently the bodies named were asked to send delegates to a conference to be held at Wellington on Wednesday next, December 1. The response to the invitation has been most encouraging.

"A very large proportion of the councils communicated with have replied assuring the Federation of their wholehearted sympathy in the movement, and a substantial proportion of the bodies elected by the ratepayers will be represented by one of 'their members, and others from the more distant parts of the Dominion hare asked Wellington residents to attend and vote on their behalf.

"The Catholic Federation has made it distinctly understood that the movement is in no sense one of a sectarian character. No invitation has been extended to the representatives of either of the various churches to attend the conference. but the local governing in the cities and towns, chosen by the people as their representatives, and therefore entitled to voice public opinioin, have been asked to take part. It has been ascertained! that about fifty delegates, amongst whom will be found piembers of Parliament, Mayors, councillors, and gentlemen of considerable standing in the educational world, from every sort of New Zealand, toll present at the conferenoe on Wednesday next. .It is freely admitted that many of the films depicting good dramas, ourrent events, scenery, and industrial and manufacturing processes are very useful and'educational, and the humorous pictures certainly afford merriment to all. It is contended by the Federation that there are very many subjects that afford excellent and innocent enjoyment,' without going to courts, the doings of , burglars, and sensationalism of the murder and sudden-death order. It is said that the films exhibited in the Dominion ihave been passed by a board of censors. This may be, but if so the viewa of the fcoard must surely be lax, if thy can be construed in the light of some of the pictures shown." ; ■