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September 1972

Page history last edited by PBworks 18 years, 4 months ago

Government Turns Down Film Societies' Request For Easing of Censorship

 

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Highet, has turned down a request from the Federation of Film Societies who asked that films restricted to adult audiences should not be cut, and who also asked for information about what the censor is cutting (at present film censorship in NZ is carried out in secret).

 

The Minister writes: "After considering very carefully the Federation's arguments for these changes, and having heard the views of other interested organisations and invividuals, I regret that I am not prepared to implement such changes at this time. I am not impressed with overseas precedents as a supporting argument for the changes, and I am far from convinced that the making of these changes has, or would have the support of the majority of people concerned in one way or the other with cinematograph films here."

 

Mr. Highet goes on: "In my own view, I consider our present legislation in respect of the censorship of films with its broadly framed provisions and the appeal rights it gives, achieves a reasonable balance between principles of absolute freedom from censorship on the one hand, and impossible and unreasonable restrictions on the other. However a complete review of the cinematograph film legislation has been made with a view to the introduction of new legislation next year. Discussions will be held later this year with interested organisations on the many points of policy that need reassessment and I shall ensure that your Federation's views on those matters affecting it are taken fully into account."

 

In a later letter, Mr. Highet tells film societies: "In respect of one of your suggestions, namely that concerning the publication of details of cuts in films, I am not at all unsympathetic to a change, but it must await consideration with the numerous other policy points arising from the review that will have to be considered and discussed with all interested parties."

 

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Federation of Film Societies describes how it first met officers of the Internal Affairs Dept. in August last year, to discuss its requests. The Federation says it believes that Mr. Highet has under-estimated the conviction with which it intends to to pursue its case, and it goes on: "It is difficult to understand why the Minister has decided to abruptly conclude our discussions."

 

- from Sequence, September 1972.

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