MOVING PICTURES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1928, Page 2

MOVING PICTURES

AN UNWHOLESOME INFLUENCE. AUCKLAND, Nov. '22. A strongly hostile attitude to moving I'.. cuiies in general is taken up by the Life and \\ork Committee of the Presbyterian Clmreli in its report presenton to Cenera! Assembly. •‘On tlie whole we are safe in saying that moving pictures continue to excrc.se a most pernicious and demoralising ii.ll uence on our young people,” states the report. ‘‘When they are not openly immoral they are insane. They exalt the problems of sex to a disproportionate plane, and by their exhibitions of luxurious living they tend to make young people discontented with their humdrum lot. While it is true that the best people in our churches do not attend the pictures to any extent, it is also true that the time.is more than ripe for a stiffening up of our censorship of films, for the authorities s |isr have certainly not erred on the side of prudery. “We might also as a church seek to counteract their evil influence by providing healthy antidotes in the formation of literary and debating societies •ind similar organisations,” concludes the report. “We believe also that it would pay most churches handsomely to provide lawn tennis courts for the young people so that they can have their recreations under the shadow ol the church.”