Film Standards Under Fire

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7025, 8 December 1932, Page 7

Film Standards Under Fire

Problems of Censorship

INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN SLANG Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Thero was a discussion on the censorship of films and posters when the Supplementary Estimate for tho Internal Affairs Department was under consideration in tho House this afternoon. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier) said there should be a stricter censorship of posters, and he asked whether the censor controlled posters as well as Aims. Bev. Clyde Carr (Timaru) said many pictures were distinctly salacious, xie had noticed during the school holidays there had beeu several films exhibited bearing an “A” certificate. This was totally wrong in principle. Continuing, Mr. Carr said that while objectionable films were released for screening, an educational film had been banned because it came from Soviet Russia. This film had dealt with the Russian Five-Year Plan and was purely Educational.

Mr. Barnard asked what was tho Government’s attitude in regard to films from other countries and Russian films in particular.

Bt. Hon. J. G. Coates said that as far as he knew, Russian films had never been banned. Russian films dealing with the work and living conditions of the Russians were frequently shown in New Zealand and he had seen at least three of them. He regarded them as distinctly educational. Continuing, the Minister said it was not correct to say that the Dominion was being swamped by American films, because 42 per cent, of the films entering tho country were British.

Mr. Barnard: Are they censored? Mr. Coates: Yes. Mr. Barnard: Then the censorship , should be tightened up. Mr. Coates said film censorship had been discussed at Ottawa. Tho problem was difficult because of the different standards adopted in New Zealand compared ■with those in the Uniteu Kingdom. Film exchanges, when buying programmes, had to act on the recommendation of the Board of Censors in England and in many cases it was found that what had been passed in England could not shown in New Zealand. Representations were being mado in an endeavour to co-ordinate censorship standards, with a view to eliminating that difficulty. Dominion Becoming Americanised.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington fauburbs) declared that tho effect "of tno exhibition of American films was that New Zealand was becoming Americanised. Slang was picked up by tho young people, who had once been noted for the absence of this characteristic. It could not be said to-day that New Zealand children were noted for tho absence of slang. Ho criticised mention in advertisements that films were recommended for adult audiences only and described this statement as mere humbug, alleging that it was made to attract audiences. Many pictures shown in New Zealand should not bo shown, particularly to mixed audiences. He would like to see tho Government take some steps to deal with this matter.

Continuing, Mr. Wright said the Dominion did not seem to get many British pictures that were shown in England. It had been suggested that American film corporations “cohered” good British pictures. Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central) said he considered the censorship had failed to safeguard the public from a “lot of American and British rubbish.” Tho tragedy was that Elstree was trying to copy Hollywood, whereas Britain had a richness of historic and other detail to draw upon. Ho suggested that power should be given for action through the law courts against the exhibition of pictures when good taste was offended. Hon. A. Hamilton, replying, said me film censor had a free hand and lie had received no instructions as far as Russian or any other films were concerned. Tho Minister said New' Zealand did not produce pictures and it was difficult for the censor to grade the films entering the country. Much was iu» out by the censor. Mr. Barnard: Docs he censor the posters, too? Mr. Hamilton: Yes.

Continuing, the Minister reminded tho House that the censor was confined to the material at his disposal. There was a possibility that if too high a standard was aimed at, there would be no pictures exhibited at all. No one desired that there be a good standard of censorship more than he himself did, and he assured the House that a very careful attempt was made by tho censor to maintain, a high standard. Mr. Hamilton explained- that there was provision for appeals againsu the censorship and there had been a deal of extra work lately in consequence of the large number of appeals that had been lodged. He added that the exhibitors were also in favour of the censorship, and it was their desire that the standard of films should be high. Replying to an interjection, the Minister said the police had the right to challenge and suppress any picture after it had been passed by the ccnscr.