Return Of Film Cuts Queried (Press, 7 April 1971)
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Summary: Return Of Film Cuts Queried (Press, 7 April 1971)
On 6 April 1971, Miss Patricia Bartlett wrote an open letter to Mr A. D. Carson, the chairman of the Film Censorship Board of Appeal, expressing her concerns regarding the board's recent decision to reinstate multiple sequences in three films that had previously been cut by the censor. She highlighted her suspicions that letters sent to local newspapers calling for no censorship of restricted films might have influenced the board’s recent changes. Bartlett questioned the rationale behind the board’s decision to restore cuts in one R16 film and several cuts in two R18 films, implying that there was significant pressure from a small group of individuals demanding the inclusion of explicit content such as nudity, sexual themes, and violence. She contrasted this group's influence with a petition signed by 50,000 people in the previous year, suggesting that the board's response to a limited number of letters overshadowed broader community standards. In her letter, she requested clarification on how the board defines what is considered "contrary to public order or decency." Bartlett emphasised the inconsistency between the board's decisions and the film censor’s original cuts, questioning why the board believed that certain explicit content, which had been previously deemed unacceptable, was now acceptable. She also pointed out that the majority of cinema-goers in New Zealand were under 24 years of age, suggesting that the board should take into account the preferences and standards of younger audiences in their decision-making process. Overall, Bartlett sought to challenge the board's judgement and demanded a more thoughtful and transparent approach to film censorship that would align with wider societal values rather than succumbing to a vocal minority.
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