FILM CENSORSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1921, Page 8

FILM CENSORSHIP.

REXTEW OF WORK DONE. MORE LEGISLATION IN VIEW{ That the censorship has effected a distinct improvement in the tone of the J pietutes exhibited in the theatres of New Zealand is the firm opinion of the Hon- G. J. Anderson (Minister for Internal Affairs). Mr. Anderson expressed this opinion in the course of an interview in Wellington. “When I took offioe. - ' Mr. Anderson remarked, “one of the first things I did was to ask the censor (Mr. Joliffe) to indicate in the case of every film whether ho considered it was suitable for children to see. We agreed then to classify pictures as ‘adult pictures’ and ‘universal pictures/ those in the former class being regarded as suitable only for grown-ups, and those in the latter as suitable for both grown-ups and children. As most people will have observed, the managements of some theatres at present state in their advertisements how the censor has classified a particular film. We have, however, no power under the law as it stands to compel such statements to be made in all advertisements; and I intend during the coming session to ask for that power. Whether children shall be permitted to see pictures -which have been advertised as suitable for adults only is a question for the parents. They must have some jurisdiction. “Complaints have been made about the,/nature of some of the matter used in the advertising of films. When it was stated a little while ago that the Government was thinking of taking power to censor the advertising matter a deputation of those interested in the picture business waited on me and gave me a promise that in future no objectionable posters would be exhibited. Immediateley afterwards a marked improvement was to be, observed. “At the present time I am taking the whole matter of the censorship into consideration, and next session we hope to remedy whatever deficiencies there appear to be in the law. Notwithstanding all the criticism r to which the censorship has been subjected, the fact that there has been a marked improvement in the pictures since the censorship was instituted cannot fairly be disputed- At the same time I do not. propose to claim that the pictures are perfection, nr that/they are not capable of further improvement.” The Minister concluded with the observation that pictures were like books, and what suited one person's taste did not always suit that of another. “What the censorship is frying to do,” he said, “is to give the public a picture that will not be objectionable to the average man and the average woman. As for criticism, I welcome it, but I believe that no matter what we may achieve there will always be some one who will not be satisfied.”