OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

WELLINGTON C. 1.

14 March 1972

Hon. Secretary,

The Wellington Film Society Incorporated,

G.P.O. Box 1584,

WELLINGTON.

Dear Mrs Rosier,

Thank you for your letter of 29 February conveying the text of a resolution passed at the annual general meeting of your Society concerning the censorship imposed on films shown to adult audiences.

The Secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Film Societies raised this matter with my predecessor, the Hon. David C. Seath, who in his reply pointed out that in cutting films the Censor is acting in accordance with the responsibilities placed on him by the legislation. Section 14 of the Cinematograph Films Act 1961 directs the Censor not to give his approval to any film or to any part of a film which in his opinion depicts any matter that is contrary to public order or decency, or the exhibition of which would be undesirable in the public interest. This legislation applies regardless of the classification the Censor gives to the film.

If the Censor was not able to cut from films those parts which the law requires him not to approve, he would probably have to reject more films than is at present the case, and I feel sure that your Society would not wish to see that happen.

I hope that these comments made by Mr Seath, and with which I fully concur, will help to clarify the situation for your members.

Yours sincerely,

D.A. Highet

Minister of Internal Affairs

- from Sequence, April 1972.