CENSORING PICTURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1921, Page 5

CENSORING PICTURES.

FEWER RESTRICTIONS SOUGHT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 1. A deputation of the Film Renters’ Association interviewed the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs, and requested that the censorship should not be imposed on short subjects, such as topical, industrial and scenic; also that appeals on short subjects should not have to pay the present minimum fee of three guineas, but should be counted with other films submitted to the Appeal Board at the same session.

The Minister said that, while it might be unnecessar to censor topical films from a moral point of view, he could understand that some questions might arise of the introduction of religious or class strife, as, for example, by showing films relating to Russia or Ireland. He promised to confer with the department on the question. The Minister stated that representations had been made to him that encouragement should be given to British films. He was informed that other countries required that a proportion of the films shown should be manufactured in the country.

The deputation said that a large proportion of British films was. now taken, but the public patronage was disappointing. Any restriction requiring the exhibition of a proportion of British films would be bad for the exhibitors, as British films were not available in a sufficient quantity. The Minister promised to consult the deputation further before taking action.