"A MORAL CANCER."

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2792, 9 June 1916, Page 6

"A MORAL CANCER."

BAD PICTURES

FILM CENSORSHIP URGED

LEGISLATION SOUGHT

Tho alleged existence in the community of a moral cancer, in the form of unsavoury kinema films, is to bo the subject ofj'a deputation to the Minister of. 1 internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) today, and the Minister is to be asked to have a Film Censorship Bill introduced to Parliament this session. Representatives of the picture show companies are to be invited to attend the deputation. A conference of representatives of the various bodies interested in the subject of film censorship .was held in the Catholic Federation Hall last evening, and the above-mentioned decisions were arrived at. A letter from the Hon. G. W. Russell was read, saying that the necessary legislation had been, prepared, but expressing doubt if tho measure would be presented in this session, which was a war session. . City Councillor G. 1 rost, who presided, said that the Minister 6eeined to have every sympathy with the movement, but there was some doubt as to whether effect would lie 1 siven at-once to the request for action. Tne merits of the censorship nrnposal need not be gone into; everyone waa agreed that oensorship was necessary ; but it was important to impress the Minister with tho need of putting the legislation through without delay. Mr. J. J. L. Burke moved that a deputation from the meeting should wait °n tho Minister to ask him to proceed with the legislation this session. Mr. J. C. Webb seconded tho motion. He said tho morals of tho community were lower to-day than ever before. There was a strong conviction, in tJ.a minds of many parents that there was increasing looseness, and that wo wero steadily on the down grade. This was an urgent matter, and there were some in the. room who did not know how vital the question was. Others there were who had opportunities of knowing, and did know, how this picture' cancer wao miLing into tho souls of the cliildrwi. 1

Mr. 'Girling-Butcher said that he held in his hand a portion of a picture whWi had been cut out of a film which lad been sent to New' Zealand for exhibition It was so disgusting, so vile, that if seemed astounding that it could be included in ia picture that anyone could pose for the photograph. Certainly the piece had been out out, but the fact remained tliatj the picture had been sent to New Zealand for showing. And what guarantee was there that six of the {Urn* had not been sent to the country, and that the other five-had not had,the piece cut out of them. ' The Minister should be approached. and urged that this urgent domestic question should be tackled in the war session. ■ The picture cancer nas debasing the children of the country. Recently he witnessed a picture production ■which was not fit for either adults cr children to see. Tet he oounted 173 children. there. He had studied this subject, and had attended picture shows till he was sick of the disgusting and demoralising films shown. Five of the big American film companies had signed a document to' the effect that tho nroduction of vicious pictures was constantly increasing just becauso they wore most profitable, and, if the industry was to endure, and decent people'wero to stay in the business, tliis cancer must be cut out. ; The companies added: "A Federal Regulatory Commission should prove a fearless surgeon, and we therefore favour, such a commission." The document was signed by'the Famous Players' Film Coy., the World's Film Corporation, the Equitable Motion Picture Corporation! the Paramount Corporation, and the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co. Surely,. Mr. Butcher added, if American producers spoke of a cancer in the business and favoured censorship, we «:ould do with censorship liere. Our House of Representatives, generally, was favourable to such a measure, and it could be put through in half an hour. The cost of working tho oensorship would be light. It must be remembered that pictures were being shown in tho small places that'oonld not.be shown here, because in the country districts there was not a large body of public opinion to reckon with as there is in the towns.

The motion was carried unanimously. On the motion, of. Mrs.'A. R. Atkinson it was decided to invite the picture proprietors .to be represented at the deputation. Mrs. Atkinson suggested that they might be willing to support the member's of tho conference.

It was stated later that the deoutatioii would meet the Minister at 10.15 o'clock this : morning.