FILM CENSORSHIP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 8

FILM CENSORSHIP

"HONI. SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE." Sir,—l would like to bo permitted to refer to some pertinent remarks inado to the Hon. G. W. Russell by the Kev. K. S. Gray, of Diuiedin, on Monday, July 11, at the deputation on the subject of film censorship. The picture "Intolerance," which, was specially mentioned by the Rev. Mr. Gray, has been shown through the whole of Australia, and never one word spoken as to the immorality of this wonderful production; in' fact, the Ministers of the Crov.-n all approved most highly of it, more especially from an educational point of view.

Tho Hot.' Mr. Gray stated that considerable complaint was made that the source of moral filth was America, and that it was since tho introduction of American films that moral uncleanliness had been apparent. This is certainly a very strong indictment to make against any people, and coming from a. Eource which would counsel us to "Judgo not last ye bo judged," one is inclined to ask what is the use of religion.

In support of Mr. Joliii'e's ablo work as a censor, and to remind those forming tho deputation that vice and corrup. tion wero rampant here long before tho age of the "movies," and perhaps as an incentive to these folks to find a much, more useful field for their labours than criticising the works of others, J would like to draw their attention to the following statistics which are >. taken from the Official Year Book of 1915: —

In the year 1001 tho proportion of illegitimate . births intfevery 100 births was 4.52, and in the year, 1913 (the last year given) 4.23, and out of 1291 mothers of illegitimate children 86.95 per cent, wero under 21 years of age. During, the year 19U there were 351,673 convictions for drunkenness out of a male population of 508,161, so that more than one-half of the malee were drunkards.

i These figures speak for themselves, and if more rigid censorship. of the pictures -will tend, to reduce the number of illegal births and the number of convictions for drunkenness, then I say let there be a more rigid censorship, but the percentage of illegitimate children has varied but very little in the la'st ten years, so that pictures have not affected that ovil. Can it be supposed that the censor could reduce this evil? I hardly think 60.

The picture "Intolerance" that has caused the stir is really very mild compared to some of the pictures displayed in some picture houses ,in this city, but even these again are classed as art, and reasonably so. "There is Teally nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so." The pure-minded do not even see the evil, and those who do it is really only a portrait of the dead art. The pictures that are obviously suggestive should bo censored, and have been! by Mr. Joliffe, Eo no one can find fault with his work.

The question is, Will more rigulncea eradicate some of the evils before-men-tioned? If 6D, then let.it come, otherwiso let the authorities" copy America and regulate the evils by legislation, as America has done. I would liko to say that I am not interested personally or indirectly in any picture business, but have pleasure in signing myself ANGLO-AMERICANO.