“CRIME THRILLERS”

Evening Star, Issue 23684, 18 September 1940, Page 4

“CRIME THRILLERS”

UNSUITABLE RADIO FEATURES HAWKE'S BAY EDUCATION BOARD'S PROTEST SUPPORT FROM OTAGO An echo of the protest made by the Hawke’s Bay Education Board concerning the broadcasting of unsuitable items such as “ crime thrillers,” -which showed a lack of literary appreciation, was heard at to-day’s meeting of the Education Board, which decided to give its general support to the Hawke s Bay Board. Special stress was laid by the Hawke’s Bay Board on the immediate effect such features had on a child’s state of mind.

The Hawke’s Bay (Board forwarded a copy of a letter it had sent to the Ministers of Education and Broadcasting in which it expressed grave concern regarding somft of thG items incJudGu in°the broadcasts during the evening sessions. In particular it desired to draw attention to the type of serials such as ‘ Piocadily ’ ‘ Inspector Scott of Scotland Yard/ ‘ The Black Moth, #t The Hawke’s Bay Board considered that these “ crime thrillers ” were not conducive to the development of a sound emotional life among the people; that they were not in keeping with the best traditions of the educational system which strove to develop an appreciation of more wholesome dramatic art than that based upon gunplay and crime; that they tended to bring the level of literary appreciation nearer to that of the “ yellow press ”; that the pictures of life thus displayed were not typically British or colonial —it # was doubtful if they were even foreign; that the undue prominence given to a life of crime and the activity of detectives and police created a bias in the child's mind towards these less savoury aspects of civilised life quite out of proportion to their importance or significance, and that the immediate effect upon children was to create a state of mind whereby they were too easily excited, too nervous, apt to_ be deprived of sleep, troubled by vivid dreams, and thus well on the way to becoming neurotic. “ It may be argued that parents may exercise control over their children and refuse to let them listen in. This is not the point at issue; but even so, it is fundamentally unsound that parents should be, compelled to take such drastic action to protect their children from an educational and entertainment medium sponsored by the Government. Unfortunately, however, many parents do not take this action. CENSORSHIP DESIRED.

“ A strict censorship is exercised over the showing of moving pictures, and it is pleasing to be able to record that many of these ■ undesirable elements have to some extent been eliminated. The radio is a matter more directly affecting the home, as the majority of homes now have radio Receivers, and an even stricter censorship is therefore desirable over the radio broadcasts in order to eliminate any undesirable features. “ The board quite recognises the difficulties inherent in this matter, the letter continued. “It does_ not overlook the fact that the radio is a big medium of entertainment, and that it has to cater for all tastes. Nor does it overlook the fact that much fine entertainment is provided, as well as talks and other items of a general educational value. Nevertheless, a strict censorship is desirable, and if enforced should result in the elimination of the preponderance of crime in some of the items.” UNDESIRABLE TREND. After discussing in some detail some of the crime features, the letter expresses -the board’s hope that its criticism would not be regarded a.s merely destructive. The difficulties of the broadcasting authorities were fully recognised. The instances quoted were not isolated ones, however, and the board regarded as undesirable the trend at present found in some of the items featured over the air. “ It feels, also,” it concluded, “ that such items could well be eliminated without detriment—rather, it would say, with improvement—to the educational and entertainment value of radio broadcasting.” SUPPORT FOR PROTEST. The chairman (Mr James Wallace) said that if possible these stories should be eliminated during hours when children were likely to listen. Mr C. E. Richards declared that_ it was time a strict censorship was imposed. It was time some action was taken. The Chairman; I can enjoy an Edgar Wallace story with anyone, but I do think it is time children were brought up on better fodder than that. Mr D. C. Cameron said that the trouble was that most of them were not actually concerned with these matters, as they did not hear them. Generally, however, he thought they should approve of the action the Hawke’s Bay Board was taking. He moved that the board generally give its support to the Hawke’s Bay Board. Mr E. Morgan seconded the motion.

Jlr H. A. Brough said it was time this sort of thing was stopped. As the father of a fairly large family ho appreciated the fact that the influence of early training remained throughout life. He said that children became attached to certain tales and listened in every week. The motion was carried.