FILM CENSORSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 3

FILM CENSORSHIP.

A PICTURE MAN'S PROTEST. WHY SOT A STATIS MONOPOLYi (From Our Own Correspondent,) Wellington, Dec. 1. "There may be something to be said in favor of a censorship of kiuematograph iilins, but Heaven preserve us from having the work done by a board of 'old women' and kill-joys," said a wellknown picture sliow proprietor to-day, in reference to a project to be discussed at a conference here this evening. "I am quite willing to admit tlmt some of the lilms which have found their way on tu New Zealand screens should not have been shown before audiences consisting largely of young people. Every picture manager lias his troubles in that respect under a system that requires him to receive films on trust. But the sort of censorship we want is a healthy public opinion, not the ruling of a policeman or a clergyman or even a magistrate. ''The New Zealand public, as a matter of fact, does not crave for films of a doubtful or unpleasant character. The people hero like scenic films, which are rather resented by Australian audiences, and tlioy nearly always reserve their applause for a picture that is beautiful and artistic. They like films dealing with industrial and scientific subjects, and, in my experience, they are usually pleasen with tile sort of picture I should like my own children to see. When a bad film gets into circulation here it is rather by accident tlian design, for the managers do not feel that they have to cater for low tastes.

'•'Does New Zealand get all the good films that are placed upon the markets in Britain and America? Not by a very long way. That leads me to the point. The importation of films into New Zealand is done by a few large firms, which lease the pictures to the actual showmen. Some of the firms have their own circuits, of course, hut the majority of the picture theatres are hirers of films. The responsibility for selection, then, is really in the hands of a few men engaged in the import business, and these men are in a position to impose any sort of censorship that is required. It is a fact that they do not bring to this country many of the best educational films. They have left out of their lists, too, many notable films that have had a great vogue elsewhere —historical incidents, dramatisations of fa.mous books, and so on. A censorship would not bring those films to New Zealand. ''My suggestion—not a new one—is this: Let the Government take hold of the picture business. The kinematography film is going to be the greatest education factor, for good or for bad, in this country and every other country. The supply of good films already is almost overwhelming, as trade catalogues will show. It is in the highest interests of the State that the people should be well served in this respect. The State could constitute itself the sole importer of films and lease them to showmen, if it did not care to run the whole b rsiness. The scheme would pay for itself and return a profit as well, and it would ensure that only the best films came to New Zealand."