CINEMA FILMS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1932, Page 2

CINEMA FILMS

CENSORSHIP DISCUSSED

DEBATE IN HOUSE

WELLINGTON, December 7

There was a discussion in the House cf Representatives this afternoon on the censorship of films and posters when the supplementary estimate for the Internal Affairs Department was under consideration.

Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) said there should be a stricter cer.sorsip of posters and asked whether the censor controlled posters as well as films.

Mr C. Carr (Lab., Timaru) said many pictures were distinctly salacious. He had noticed during the school holidays that there had been several films exhibited bearing the A certificate. This was totally wrong in principle. While objectionable films were released for screening, lie said, an educational film had been banned becauss it came from Soviet Rusia. This film had dealt with the Russian five-year-plan and was purely educational.

Mr Barnard asked what was the Government’s attitude in regard to films from other countries, andi Russian films in particular. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said that so far as he knew Russian films had never been banned. Russian films dealing with the work and living conditions of Russians wer© frequently shown in New Zealand, and he had seen at least throe of them. He regarded them fts distinctly educational,

DIFFERENT STANDARDS. Mr Coates went on to say that it was not correct that the Dominion was being swamped by American film?, because 42 per cent of the films entering the country were British. Mr Barnard: Are they censored? Mr Coates: Yes. Mi' Barnard: Then the censorship should be tightened up. Mr Coates said the film censorship had been discussed at Ottawa. The problem was difficult because .of the different, standards adopted in New Zealand compared with those in the United Kingdom. Film exchanges buying programmes had to act on the recommendation of the Board of Censors in England, and in many , cases it was found that what had been passed in England could not be shown in New Zealand. Representations were being made in all endeavour to co-ordinate censorship standards with a view to eliminating that difficulty. Mr R. A. Wright (C., Wellington Suburbs)' declared that the. effect of the exhibition of American films was that New Zealand was becoming Ameri. oaniged. Slang was picked up . by young people who had orice been told for the absence of this characteristic. It could not be said to-day that New Zealand children were noted for an absence of 9lang, He criticised. the mention in advertisements that films were recommended for adult audiences only, and described this statement as mere humbug, alleging that it was made to attract audiences. Many pictures shown in New Zealand should not be shown, particularly, t.o mixed audiences. He would- like to see the Government take some steps to deal with this matter. The Dominion did; not seem to get many British pictures that were shown in England. It had been suggested that tha American Film Corporation had “cornered” the good British pictures. Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) said he considered that the censorship had failed to safeguard the public from “a lot of American and British rubbish.” The tragedy was tlie Elstree was trying to copy Hollywood, whereas Great Britain had a richness of historic and other detail to draw upon. He suggested that power should be given for action through the law courts against the exhibition, of pictures when good taste was offended.

HIGH STANDARD AIMED AT. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, replying, said the film censor had a free hand. He had received no instructions so far as Russian or any other films were concerned. New Zealand did not produce pictures and it was difficult for the -censor to grade the films entering the country. Much was cut out by the censor.

Mr Barnard: Does he censor the posters, too? The Minister reminded the House that the censor was confined to the material at his disposal. There was a possibility that if a too high standard was aimed at there would be no pictures exhibited at all. No one desired that there should be a good standard of censorship more than he himself did, and he assured the House that a very careful attempt was made by the censor to maintain a high standard. Mr Hamilton explained that there was provision for appeals against the censorship, and there had been a great deal of extra! work lately in consequence of the large number of appeals that had been lodgod. He added that exhibitors were also in favour of the censorship, and it was their desire that the standard of films should be high.

Replying to an interjection, the Minister said the police had the right to challenge and suppress any picture after it had been passed by the censor.