THE MOVING PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 6

THE MOVING PICTURE

EFFECT ON YOUTHFUL MINDS MORE DRASTIC CENSORSHIP SUGGESTED By Telegraph—Press AModatlou. Auckland, August 20. The appearance of two boys of sixteen years at the Supreme Court for sentence on charges of breaking and entering revived discussion of the influence on tho U'lithfiit male nund of moving pictures of a certain class of adventure. Both boys were of ordinarily good character, with comfortable homes and careful parents; yet they admitted that ono night recently they broke the shop window of the Colonial Ammunition Company and stole two automatic pistols, and several nights lafor they were surprised in the act of breaking into ttended's drapery shup, when, each lad Mas equipped with a flashlight torch, rubber gloves, and a revolver.

CounsSl for one of the lads suggested flint they got their ideas from going to see a certain class of moving pictures.

The Crown Prosecutor said the question of tiie effcct of picture shows on the mind of the community was involved. There was no doubt that if pictures were found to liavo a mischievous suggestive tendency, one of two courses of action would have to be taken: eitlior a more drastic censorship, or legislative measures to prevent boys under 18 or 19 years of age 'being allowed into picture shows. "Wo have had so much of this in this court," he said, "that it seems clear some action must be taken, and no doubt your Honour has had the same experience. The police are continually reporting on it." Counse 1 . agreed that there was nothing mischievous in the home surroundings or conduct of the accused boys, but the police were inclined to think that che-ap. literature of tho "blood and thunder" class had found its way into the boys' hands.

Mr, Justice Chapman remarked Hi at he was afraid pernicious literature was nlvrnvs with u?. anil would get into the hands of hoys if thev sought it. Ho agreed with Mr. To'e that complaints of moving pictures were always coming before thft courts, hut at the s»m« time tho=o picture?, under proper oondit'ons, onirht not to b» a source of corruption. Thf\r ought to bo a source of edification and wholesome amusement, and it; was only n question of how and when they should ho made to conform with &uoh a standard that they would perform their proper junction. How that was to he done ms more than ho could 'fly, but it would have to be obtained. a grp?t mistake to condemn pictures (hat might to wide a most valuable means of instruction and amusement. Though he rauly visited picture shows, he had recently dono fi". wd had been aErreeoWy suroriwd' to find the iiibieoto mi'' picture' shown to b? not'only unobjectionable; but. also wholesome in their suggestion «nd instructive in character.