Whither Now?

Although the Government did not take any further action on its Cinematograph Films Bill, which was set down to be studied by a Select Committee (to be decided), it has not been lost with the end of the Parliamentary session for the year because the Prime Minister moved that all bills currently before select committees should remain so for recess study. So, although the special Select Committee had not been appointed, the bill (and with it Jonathan Hunt's private member's bill on the same subject) will not lapse.

If Labour wins the election, it is expected that a committee will be appointed to hear evidence early in the New Year. In an indication to the editor of Sequence, the spokesman for Internal Affairs for the National Party has also said that there will be no delay in implementing the measure.

All the film societies in the country have been asked to begin preparing their own individual submissions so that they will be ready when the Select Committee calls for evidence. In addition, any members who feel strongly about censorship should be preparing now to give their own individual submissions.

With the election coming up later this month all members are urged to question their local candidates to determine where they stand on the film censorship issue. Do you want 41% of all films cut in the years to come - even if the cuts are just because of language that is heard in the corridors of almost every school in the country? Quiz your local candidates and make them think about it.

- reprinted from Sequence, November 1975.