AMERICAN “TALKIES”

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1929, Page 6

AMERICAN “TALKIES”

EFFECT ON CHILDREN’S SPEECH AUCKLAND, Sept. 5. The danger to children’s speech owing to the introduction of American “talkie” films was mentioned by Air Spenceley Walker, retiring president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, at the annual meeting. Air Walker expiessed the opinion that the branch should consider the question of the effect of the “talkies,” and should also investigate unsupervised attendance of children at Saturday afternoon picture matinees.

Stating that much work "had been accomplished by the branch during the year, Air Walker said that much more remained to be done in the broader aspect of education. There were outstanding problems on the social side of education, and the branch could do much greater work in a broader way. “Alany of us feel that there is a very grave danger in the introduction of American ‘talkies,’ ” the speaker added. “These films are going to have a very bad effect on the children of New Zealand. Another thing which could be investigated by the branch are Saturday afternoon matinees, which children attend without supervision. In my position as head master of a large city school I feel that there is a great danger in this. It would be possible for the branch to increase its activities by consideration of these questions.”