MINISTER QUESTIONED IN HOUSE ON CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS

On April 27, Mr. C.L.Carr (Labour, Timaru), gave notice in the House of Representatives that he intended to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. S.M.Smith) whether he would indicate when it was proposed to promulgate regulations under the 1953 amendment to the Cinematograph and Films Act.

Also last month, your editor [Miss Gill Heming] wrote to the Minister asking much the same question and requesting a statement that could inform members as to the present situation. With the letter was enclosed a copy of last month's bulletin and the resulting press statement by the President (Mr. D. Garrett).

The following is the Minister's reply:
"I have received your letter of the 26th April regarding the Film Censorship Regulations, and in reply I have to advise you that these regulations which are provided for by the Cinematograph Films Amendment Act, 1953, are being incorporated in a revision and consolidation of the main regulations governing the censorship of cinemamatograph films and posters issued in 1928 and 1930. It will be appreciated that after this lapse of time a thorough overhaul of the whole of the regulations is necessary and desirable, and a number of questions of principle arise for consideration.
"I am hopeful of bringing to an early conclusion a most difficult and complicated matter".

EDITORIAL COMMENT    

The reply given by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr. S.M. Smith, cannot but be disappointing to members of the Wellington Film Society. There is no doubt that it will be disappointing to the New Zealand Film Institute and to serious filmgoers throughout the country. It seems, from the Minister's letter, that filmgoers generally will have no say in the new regulations.

It is very commendable on the Minister's part that he is hopeful of "bringing to an early conclusion a most difficult and complicated matter" and Film Society members throughout New Zealand will be the first to show their appreciation of the Minister's efforts, providing the regulations are designed to assist the Censor in his work and protect the public generally, and are not designed solely for the benefit of the film industry. Experts all over the world have stressed the influences for good or evil that can be contained in films. The Mazengarb committee investigating juvenile delinquency in this country warned of much the same thing and it only to be hoped that something worthwhile will result from the new regulations.

It is still to be hoped that the Minister will give the Institute an opportunity of seeing a draft copy and that he will consider any proposals or suggestions it may have to make on the regulations. This after all, is their right. Mr. Smith has just taken over the portfolio of Internal Affairs and he is to be congratulated on the interest he is showing in the matter. It is only to be hoped that the proposed regulations will be satisfactory to all interested bodies.