CINEMA FILMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2633, 2 December 1915, Page 6

CINEMA FILMS

CENSORSHIP URGED

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE

BIG DEPUTATION TO-DAY

Forty delegates, representing New Zealand local bodies, met 1 in Wellington last evening, severely criticised a class of cinema pictures which are being shown, and resolved in favour of film censorship. The delegation was written down as follows:—

Education Institute Representatives. — Wellington, Mr. J. C. Webb; N.Z. Institute, Mr. H. A. Parkinson; Nelson, Mr. C. N. Haslam, 8.A.; Taranaki, Mr. A. Erskine; Otago, Mr. \V. I'. Grundy. Education Board Representatives.— Wellington, Messrs. Win. Allan and C. M. Luke; Otago, Professor Garrow; Hawke's Bay, ilr. H. Hill, 8.A., I'.R.S. ; North Canterbury, Hon. J. G. W. Aitken; South Canterbury, Mr. Alexander Bell.

Various Bodies Represented.—Church of England Men's Society, Mr. J. Snell; Young Men's Christian -Association, Mr. W. Allan; Young Women's Christian Association, Miss Mary M'Lean, M.A.; Women's Christian Temperance Union; Mrs. Peryman; Richmond Kindergarten Union, Mrs. Anderson; Moral and Physical Health Society, Dr. JldiUi Huntley; Society for the Protection of Women and Children, Mesdames M'Laren and Atkinson; Wellington Diocesan Council N.Z.C. Federation, m^ ass '? Dominion Executive of N.Z. Catholic Federation, Messrs. Burke, Duggan, and Girling-Butcher. Representatives of City and Borough Councils.—Ashburton, Mr. Nosworthv, M.1.; Feilding, Councillor Frost, for Mayor oMVellington; Hawera, Hon. J. G. \\. Aitken, Hastings, Councillor' 6 JM'ost; Karori, The Mayor, Mr. B. G. [|- Burn; Lower Hut't, the Mayor, Mill. Baldwin; Miramar, Councillor James 1 ollock; Napier, Councillor J. H. Mieatli; Onslow, Councillor L. A' Browne; PaJmerston North, Councillor Jl .- Jackson; Patea, Councillor Frost, tor the Mayor of Wellington; Petone Councillor A. Anderson; fernuka, Mr. A. .'Bell, Education Department: Wanganui, Councillor A. Thompson; Wellington, Councillor J. Hutcheson; Wairaa, Mr. J. Duggan; Waimate, Mr. W. i. Johnson; Kangiora, Mr. L T Reiohel: Marion, Councillor G.' Frost' for the Mayor of Wellington; Pahiat'na Councillor Hildretfo; Waihi, Mr. W H lnillips. , iho conference was convened by the New Zealand Roman - Catholic Federation. Ihe chairman, of the Dominion .Executive of the Federation (Mr. J J i/- Burke) introduced the subject to the delegates. In doing so ho said t'hat I gathering was one which would liaye an important bearing on the future life of the community. Duriu" the last few years the Catholic Fedca" won had had complaints from its own people of pictures which were offensive to them as Roman Catholics, and those particular complaints the body had dealt with itself, and had been courteously mot by tho controllers c f the cinema enterprises: As to things which concerned themselves only, tne federation was-quite prepared to deal with them alone; but there was a broader aspect than the religious aspect—the moral aspect. The Federation hau got into touch with the local bodies 0 f New Zealand, and the -esult iras the present gathoring of delegates. Ho added that complaint had been made to the Federation that pictures ol an immoral nature had a-t times been shown, and that as the picture enterprises were now, so extensive the fact was a very serious one. Mr. G. Frost, who was present as the representative of tho Mayor (vho' is out of Wellington) was elected to the chair, and lie said the Federation should be complimented on the step it had taken, and that a censorship of cmoma turns was necessary. ■ Mr. J, J. L. Burke moved:—

That this conference of . local governing bodies, educational authorities, and organisations concerned with the social welfare' of the people of this Dominion, whilst luliy appreciating the useful and educational value of the cinematograph, is of opinion that the "lass .™ 0 , VI ?S pictures at present exhibited ill Now Zealand constitutes a grave danger to the moral health and social welfare of the community, and affirms the necessity for a strict supervision by the Government of all films exhibited to the public in the picturo theatres of this .Dominion, and requests -.hat an officer or board be appointed, j i lO /* 6 it shall be to inspect all films before t'hey are allowed to be exhibited, and that every film so licensed shall bear a certificate,, signed to that effect, and, ; further, that a list of all films declared to be unsuitable be published weekly in the Police 'Gazette, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, with a request that legislation be introduced to give effect to-the same at the earliest possible opportunity."

Mr. J. Hutcheson seconded the motion, which he said was not before its time. He knew no better method of teaching than through the agency of (motion, pictures. We saw wonderful things on the films, but we had to wade through objectionable films at times to get to them. , New York was the chief offender against us, and there were $wo companies of film-makers there who specialised in vicious pictures. Not only were some of the pictures immoral sexually, but they were banality itself. Crime was glorified For instance, a worker shoots his employer, does' a few weeks in gaol, repenting so hard that he is let free, and at once marries the best girl in the land. Was not that glorifying crime? Such pictures, acting on the plastic minds of our young, were a most insidious form of poison. Such pictures were now within the reach of the humblest. Films iu general had come So stay, and they must be turned to God's and not the devil's, purpose. ' (Ap-| plause.) The National Board of Censorship in America was a voluntary concern, without legal status, and it was kept alive by the film companies. Mr. G. Girling Butcher mentioned that the - Commissioner of Police had made a report to the Minister of Internal Affairs on the subject of cinema films. . The commissioner had stated that nothing could be done as the law now stood, and that to do anything it would be necessary for fresh legislation to be introduced.

Mrs. A. R. Atkinsou warmly supported the motion. She spoke particularly against the showing of films featuring divorce; they were films which children should not see. Women should be represented on any body of censors. Dr. Edith Huntley said that many of the films wero oporating against the purity of our children under tile guise of amusement.

Mr. J. C. Webb, speaking as a teacher of children, said frequently; one could not sco anything good at the p'ctures without suffering scones of wrongdoing and atrocity. Things wero shown which children should not tee, and which, ordinarily, parents would not show to their children. He had recently witnessed the pictm-isation of a play which had been staged hero about 18 years ago by a well-known actor. He was a seasoned picture-patron, but ho had quitted t.tio thontro in disgust, and taagidorod that had tho actor ix*

ferred to produced the play in the manlier tile picture men had produced it he would have been hissed off'tho Wellington stage. Mr. J. Duggan said that it might be argued by the producers of some of the pictures in question that the best way to cure a vice' was to advertise it. But some of the vices did not exist in New Zealand in the form portrayed, so even from the producers' point of view the pictures had no utility. Mr. C. M. Luke hoped tliat this thing would be seen through. New Zealand endeavoured to safeguard the health of its people by instituting all sorts of health regulations, but tit the sajiic time we were .allowing to go untouched a stream of pollution which was infinitely more harmful than the health dangers were. Professor G arrow, in supporting the motion, remarked that the most powerful impressions made on the minds of children were those made through the eye.

Hon.. J. G. W. Aitken said that it gave him extreme pleasure to be present and to support the motion. Sir. W. F. Johnson said that pictures shown made it clear that vice was being exploited on the screen for dollars. Councillor A. Thompson agreed' with the motion.

The motion was carried unanimously, and it was decided to wait on the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) at 11 to-day.