Spate Of Porn. Films Feared (Press, 15 October 1980)

On 15 October 1980, the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards presented concerns to a Parliamentary select committee regarding the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill. The society warned that if the bill were to become law, it could lead to a surge of soft-core pornographic films entering New Zealand, overwhelming the abilities of policing authorities to manage the influx. The society's counsel, Mr J. Q. Dalgety, and secretary, Miss Patricia Bartlett, argued that the bill failed to enhance censorship standards. During their two-hour submission, they highlighted how establishments like massage parlours, saunas, strip clubs, licensed hotels, and taverns might exploit the bill to show or import obscene films. The proposal eliminated the requirement for film renters or exhibitors to be licensed, which the society feared would create chaos for police, customs officers, film inspectors, and the Film Censor, already struggling with their current responsibilities. Miss Bartlett expressed concerns that hotels might seek to attract patrons by screening films containing violence and immoral content, particularly in regions lacking cinemas. She mentioned that one brewery was already planning to introduce video cassettes, further indicating a possible trend towards importing lesser quality films from certain filmmakers. The society argued that only two inspectors were monitoring compliance with censorship requirements, while the police prioritised drug control over film regulation. Mr Dalgety criticized the bill for not including stronger censorship measures that the Minister of Internal Affairs had indicated would be introduced the previous year. He noted that no member of the public had access to request a review of a film's classification, and certain film categories could be exempt from examination, particularly in adult establishments. Miss Bartlett pointed out that appeals to the Minister regarding film censorship had been unsuccessful for the past 19 years. In their discussion about the powers of the Film Censor, Miss Bartlett asserted that if a film applicant objected to a censor's request to cut content, the censor faced the dilemma of either banning the film or issuing a warning notice. She argued that warning notices could inadvertently promote interest in such films rather than prevent them. She called for the censor to have the authority to cut excessive violence and sexual content without needing prior consultation with the applicants. Furthermore, Miss Bartlett raised concerns about the Broadcasting Act, which enabled restricted films to be aired on television unless they were outright banned or cut. She warned that films like "Clockwork Orange" or "Last Tango in Paris" could be accessed by all audiences at any time. She urged amendments to the Broadcasting Act to restrict such films to adult-viewing times. When asked to establish a correlation between declining morals, rising lawlessness, and films, Mr Dalgety contended that a value judgement was sufficient to illustrate the films' influence on public behaviour, noting that younger viewers might adopt the values displayed in immoral film narratives. Miss Bartlett acknowledged the demand for sex education as indicated by a National Research Bureau poll but reiterated that she supported comprehensive courses that aligned with traditional values of fidelity and respect.

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