Doubt Cast On Censor’s Ability (Press, 5 November 1987)

On 5 November 1987, the Society for Promotion of Community Standards, led by Miss Patricia Bartlett, publicly accused the Chief Film Censor of ineffectiveness in managing the Films Act. In a letter addressed to Dr Bassett, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Bartlett demanded the removal of the Chief Film Censor, arguing for the appointment of someone capable of properly administering the act to benefit both the public and the film industry. She also advocated for enhanced appeal rights to the Film Censorship Board of Review for recognised public entities. Bartlett's criticisms were heightened by a recent High Court decision where Mr Justice McGechan annulled the Chief Film Censor's classification of two video films that the society had designated as test cases. This ruling marked the second time in a span of 13 months that the Chief Film Censor faced legal challenges resulting in his decisions being overturned, which Bartlett highlighted as evidence of flawed administration. This ongoing situation raised concerns about the validity of over 350 video titles that had been classified by the Chief Film Censor, many containing explicit sexual content, which were now widely available throughout New Zealand. Bartlett pointed out that the public faced limited avenues to voice their dissatisfaction with film classifications. They could only challenge decisions on legal grounds or seek permission from the Minister to appeal directly to the board, signalling a need for reforms in the film censorship process.

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