THE FIGHT PICTURES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 80, 13 July 1910, Page 5

THE FIGHT PICTURES.

THE POSITION IN A NUTSHELL. THE FEDERAL PREMIER'S ATTITUDE. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrigkt Received July 12, 9.20 p.m. Melbourne, July 12. A big deputation of clergymen and others, claiming to represent practically the whole of the forces acting for ine moral good of the community, waited on Mr. Fisher and urged him to prohibit the importation of funis of the JohnsonJeffries fight, on the grounds that they would have a bad moral effect generally, and a bad effect educationally on youths. Rev. Worrall expressed the I opinion that it would be simply national suicide to allow the films to be shown here or elsewhere in the Empire, while I a lady deputationist claimed that the: sight of ill deeds was responsible for ill] deeds being done. While the deputation wanted the Johnson-Jeffries films especially prohibited, they also desired that others of a similar character should be kept out. Mr. Fisher stated that he would deal with the question of a general prohibition later. As to the Johnson-Jeffries fight pictures, they could not be barred unless found to be indecent. He could not legislate for one particular event. He could not think of taking steps to prohibit boxing, much as he abhorred prize-fighting, which introduce the purely commercial spirit. The Press reports of the fight had discolsetl nothing more degrading than was ordinarily connected with boxing, and- he had no intention of askin» the Department to prohibit the introduction of the films. He was not going to be driven by the little excitable ' feeling which had arisen. THE LYNCHING OUTRAGES, i SPECIAL INVESTIGATION. ; Received July 12, 10.10 p.m. New York, July 12.

Governor Harman, of Ohio, has suspended the Mayor of Newark, and is now invited to suspend the sheriff for failing to check the lynching. A special Grand Jury has been summoned to investigate the whole case. The New York Times states that the investigation will incidentally increase Governor Harman's prestige as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT POWERLESS.) London, July 11. | Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill said that the Government had no power to prohibit films of the Johnson-Jeffries tight being exhibited. SYDNEY. Sydney, July 12. A number of petitions to Government are'being prepared protesting against ! the introduction of the fight pictures i to the Commonwealth. '

PRESBYTERIAN PROTEST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 12. Wellington Presbytery passed a resolution requesting the Premier and Municipal Council to prohibit the John-son-Jeffries fight pictures.

PRESBYTERY AND THE PRESS. "OUTRAGE OF HUMANE SENTIMENT." Christchurch, Last Night. The Presbytery to-day decided to strongly protest against the brutal details of boxing contests being reported in the columns of the public Press to Jhe gross outrage, of humane sentiment, < and pledged itself to oppose to the ut-l most of its power the representation of these horrible exhibitions by cinematograph or other process. I