FILMS AND SLIDES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 660, 11 May 1929, Page 30

FILMS AND SLIDES

NEW ZEALAND PUBLICITY LECTURES IN ENGLAND Lecture and film-showing enterprise on behalf of New Zealand is being effectively, if quietly, carried out by the High Commissioner’s Office in London. This year already sets of lantern slides have been provided by the High Commissioner’s publicity section for over 1,200 lectures. Over 30 sets of slides are constantly in circulation. The lecturers are chiefly New Zealand visitors to Britain. New Zealand school teachers on exchange, professional lecturers under engagement to lecture agencies, people who have visited New Zealand and who desire to tell of its beauties and its interest, Y.M.C.A. lecturers, and others, says "New Zealand News.” Professor Hugh Stewart, late of Christchurch and now of Leeds Universitv. Professor A. J. Grant, and several others equally distinguished, have been among the most enthusiastic of New Zealand’s helpers in this work. Work in Schools Sets of slides have to be arranged to suit each lecturer and the work entailed is very considerable and calls for much care. Literature to bring the speakers up to date has to be supplied and often special lecture notes provided. These lectures have been given over the whole of the United Kingdom. They do not include the hundreds that are delivered at schools in various parts of Britain. In addition. New Zealand film in the same way is supplied to schools which have cinema apparatus, and various institutes and clubs. But the greatest publicity activity of the High Commissioner's Department in this respect is through the ordinary cinema theatres. The daily average of showings somewhere in Britain is 15, and the number could easily be increased if more money were available, for though the charge in each booking is a mere nominal one to cover agent's correspondence and railage on the flint the cost of this alone in the twelve months runs into over £SOO. Curious Policy It seems rather a curious policy that several thousands of pounds should be spent in New Zealand in the porductiou of this film and so little be made available for its actual showing—so little, indeed, that the enterprise of those handling this work should have | to be restrained. New Zealand visitors to Britain often return to the Dominion totally in ig- j noranee of all this quiet, but effective,' publicity work—and much more that [ is not referred to here—and which,; " ith more money available, could be I rapidly increased. The proofs, how-! ever, are always available to New Zea-1 landers at the High Commissioner's j Office if those interested care to make inquiries.