HARMFUL PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 84, 3 January 1920, Page 7

HARMFUL PICTURES

CONDEMNED BY TEACHERS PROPOSED REMEDIES The Masterton branch of tho New Zealand Educational Institute, in a remit to the annual conference, asked that the Government ho urged to "purify and elevate Iho slandard of moving picture entertainments.'" Mr. J. A. Cowles moved the lomit. lie said that he was not prepared to discuss the subject, as ho had been invited only at the last moment to fill the place of Mr. F. L. Combs, the iiastcrton delegate. Mr. J. D. M'Niiughton (AiiiV.!f,i.d) supported the motion. He rimmed that some of the pictures shown hord?r-.d open immorality. If the school teacher took an iuto'rpst in preventing n child from engaging in harmful labour before and after school hours lie should take finite as much interest in keeping the child from ntteyding picture shows, fo its detriment. ..Miss N. 11.,I 1 ., Coad (Wellington) said that much talk was indulged in upon pictures, but the pictures inst went merrily on. No improvement could, in her opinion, he hoped for until a woman censor was annointed and picture theatres were controlled either by the Fdneat'nn Department or by the municipal authorities.

Mr. A. .T. C. Hall (Auckland) suggested Hint delegates should not attack pictures in general, since many pictures were instructive arid very entertaining. They should single out --onir. objectionable picture. make representations regarding it, and then hear what the other fide had to say. Mr. -T. C. Webb (Wellington) said that ho had frnnklv to mlmit considerable improvement in the nualitv of pictures even during the last 12 months. lie was a freonont attender at. picture shows, and lie hardlv ever saw a picture without wishing that children "wore prevented from seeing it. Tho trouble lav in the fact that, tho-censor did his work in tho interests -of the adult communitv, and not of the children. Tt was henrt-breakinj work to have to inculcate in children principles of r.'cht-living when the vonng ones were able to see so freouentlv pictures that represented Hie <-«\my cidc of life. Mr. J. F. Wilson (Grey) named a partien'nr ferial nicHr" at present in 1 circulation in Now Z«abind which ho condemned i" the st"ont"~(Sj; languaee. Delegates ncd not wr'";'their linnds over flip tro'iblo. ho sn'-d. The institute cnuld/iuito well brjng it to an end. cnpjiur (hat it was 'o v''lelv recognised. Pconlc wnild not let children read literal"re on (he level of snn.ie of Hie 'lietnres thov paw. .

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