CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1930, Page 2

CENSORSHIP OF FILMS

MORE STRICT CONTROL

URGED

WELLINGTON, April 7

Reasons for their contention that a 'stricter censorship sliould be imposed on cinema films were submitted io iho Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) by a deputation representing the Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptists, and Church of Christ Churclios, the Salvation Army, and the Y.M.C.A.

The Rev. Dr Gibb said they understood that a deputation from a women s organisation had asked the Minister to take action against the picture posters that disgraced the hoardings of the city. The present deputation wished to submit their protest against both the posters and the films, or, at least against many of the latter. They were no killjoys. Some people contended that only educative films should he exhibited, but the deputations were not of that mind. The craving for amusement was a legitimate demand of human nature. Decent amusement in its place had healthful and stimulating reactions on the moral nature, but the amusement must be clean and wholesome, leaving no bad taste in the mouth. The ban should he put on every picture which served to stir up mud in the human heart.

UNWHOLESOME THEMES

The deputation wished to emphasise two points, said Dr Gibb. In the first place very few of the films recognised the higher values of* life. The higher possibilities of human nature were sol dom suggested. This fact was too wcl l known to require insistonc. Secondly, many of the films were degrading to the spectators. The conviction was widespread that the picture theatre, as con ducted to-day, was often an engine and instrument of social demoralisation The thejne was sex, sex, and .sex. Reli gion, regarded in its widest connotation as the idealisation of life, had no chance of. success in a community subjected continually to these spectacles It was a shame, too, that women were permitted, in the vaudeville turns, som theatres ‘introduced between the films to masquerade in semi-nude or more than semi-nude conditions. It was some times contended that the films were not demoralising because the .villain or the libertine sometimes met his deserts before the play 7 ended. Some of the worst books published in our times were justified by their authors % on much the same ground, hut it was not the moralisation. of life that those ghouls were after; it was money 7 , money earned hv the obstrusion of the gutter. DANGERS TO YOUTH.

Some time ago, said the speaker, lie had been present in the Magistrateh Children’s Court, and while he wai waiting for the ease in which lie wa> interested a boy was tried for a filth’ crime. Counsel offered the plea that the boy had been at a place of enter tninment where the appeal of sexual ty was well known. There he had had hi passions stirred, and the crime was th' outcome. The Magistrate accepted tin plea. “We in New Zealand are paying bitter price for the demoralisation o the picture stage,” said Dr Gibb “Consult your Year Book and s& whither we are tending or indeer where wo have arrived. We appeal tr you to tighten up. the censorship an insist that the films shall be such a a decent father can take his wife an children too. It is the duty 7 of th Government to protect the morals o’ the community. We respectfully as! you to help in this crusade for ; cleaner and better life.” SUPPORT FROM CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Mr P. J. O’Reagan said that he and his colleague has been asked by Areh-

bishop O’Shea to represent the Catholic Church in the present protest against the debasing influence oi many oif the films displayed in the picture theatres of the Dominion. It was well known that the Catholic Church was no enemy of wholesome amusement. It looked with favour on every agency that helped to promote the happiness and wellbeing of the people. But the picture theatre bad suffered degeneration and was becoming an instrument of unrighteousness. He endorsed all that Dr. Gibli had said. He strongly urged the Minister to take action in the direction the deputation indicated. The Rev. E. D. Patehett said they were not out against the pictures because they were a popular form of amvsement. Their protest was limited to pictures which were a menace to the moral health of the community-. They sought the protection of their young people from a very pronounced and provocative form of temptation. The Rev. Canon Janies generally endorsed the contention of the previious speakers. He differed at ufie point with Dr Gibb ; the posters,- were more reprehensible than the. phi .vs, not perhaps in their intrinsic : .qualit-\ hut to see the film you had to go into the theatre and pay vmir way There was. however, no escaping the poster. It shrieked at y’ou as you passed by 7. He asked if something could not be be done to substitute English films for the wretched stuff imported from California.

MINISTER’S REPLY

Mr de la Perrelle said he was pleased to receive the deputation and recognised its importance, representing, as it did, practically all the Churches of the Dominion. Ho thoroughly sympathised with their dcsiie to see the amusements off the people cleansed from all demoralishing elements. He was totally opposed to the exhibition of undesirable films. He valued the contribution the Churches made to the moral life-of the community, hut the task of censorship was extremely difficult. The Censor (Mr Tanner) took his work very seriously and was eager to make tlie picture theatre a means of true benefit to tlie people. The 1 Minister said that he had received a deputation of women asking for redress of the poster evil, and he had resolved to bring' the posters under censorship. Many of the films were no doubt quite unfit for children, and the Censor, duly informed tlie management of the pic? hire houses who made public intimation of the fact.

A member of the deputation : That onlv plays into the hands off the management and secures for them bigger attendances.

Mr de la Perrelle said he would like to take their Representations into serious consideration and confer with the Censor and see what might be lone.

Mr Tanner also expressed his sympathy with the desire of the deputation for clean entertainment. The disk of the censorship, he said, was very difficult. They made many cuts : n the time and insisted on various 'lterations. He admitted that some of the pictures were undesirable ;for the young, and to these a recommen* Intion for adult audiences .ofily was vlways added. He was very willing to lo what might be done to make 1 tin censorship more effective. -