CINEMA CENSORSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 942, 8 April 1930, Page 1

CINEMA CENSORSHIP

MINISTER PROMISES ACTION DEPUTATION FROM CHURCHES Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The reasons for their contention that a stricter censorship should be imposed on. cyiema .films were submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, by a deputation representing the Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Church of Christ Churches, the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A., yesterday. Mr. Perrelle said he was pleased to receive the deputation, and recognised its importance, representing as it did practically all the churches of the Dominion. He thoroughly sympathised with their desire to see the amusements of the people cleansed from all demoralising elements. He was totally opposed to the exhibition of undesirable films, and he valued the contribution the churches had made to the moral life of the community, but the task of censorship was extremely difficult. The censor, Mr. Tanner, took his work very seriously, and was eager to make the picture theatre the means of true benefit to the people. The Minister said he had received a deputation of women asking for redress of the poster evil and he had resolved to bring posters under the censorship. Many of the films were no doubt quite unfit for children, and the censor duly informed the management of the picture houses, who made a public intimation of the fact. A Member of the Deputation: That only plays into the hands of the management and secures for them bigger attendances. Mr. Perrelle said he would take their representations into serious consideration and confer with the censor and see what might be done.