PICTURES AND MORALS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 13, 10 July 1911, Page 5

PICTURES AND MORALS

A CANTERBURY PROPOSAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Saturday Night. At last night's meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council, a letter was read from the Revs. F. P. Kendall, T. Miller, and Messrs. T. W. Ambrose (headmaster of the Rangiora school), W. B. Borthwack (headmaster of the Southbrook school), and T. R. Cresswell (principal of the High school), .strongly condemning the character of the films exhibited at the Coronation Picture .show in town to which school dltildren were admitted free. Three of the films, it was stated, were utterly unfit for children's eyes, and were harmful to those who were no longer children. The bad effect produced on young minds by such pictures, it was said, must be far reaching, and would do more than any other pernicious agency towards tlie degradation of the morals of the rising generation. It was earnestly urged that such steps should be taken by the oouneil as might effectively prevent the cxhibtion of objectionable and harmful films in the public halls of the town, and further, bearing in mind Mie widespread u-e of picture entertainments throughout the country, they strongly urged that the Government should be approached with a view to the establishment of a cenosrship oi all films exhibited in the Dominion.

The Mayor and councillors expressed their approval of the action taken by those who forwarded the letter and their willingness to do all thnt lay in their power to prevent pernicious effects of picture shows. The Mayor said he considered that the Government should institute a strict censorship over the films, none but those hearing ail official seal to be exhibited. The Mayor suggested that a meeting shonld be (held to arouse public interest in the matter, and lead people in other parts of the Dominion to move in the same direction.

As the outcome of a long discussion, it wns resolved to hold a public meeting to initiate a movement against the exhibition of pictures of a demoralising tendency.