Censor wants film feedback

In an effort to generate greater community awareness of censorship issues, the Chief Censor, Alfred Morris, has come up with a new initiative which commences next Wednesday.
Morris told the Times the new initiative involved getting key community groups to participate in a censorship exercise and provide him with feedback. From this feedback, Morris said he hopes to gain a clearer insight into the way the wider society now views censorship in general.
Next Wednesday, Morris has invited five students from each from Tereora College, Papaaroa College, Titikaveka College and St Joseph’s to attend a screening of a movie at the Empire theatre at 10am.
The students will be asked to view a film and “censor” it and give it a rating and to provide their reasons for their ratings. Morris himself has already viewed and rated the movie.
Morris will also discuss with the students issues arising during this process. Morris will evaluate the students’ reports and provide their schools with feedback.
TIME
Later, Morris will invite other groups such as sports clubs and church groups to undergo the same exercise. In time he hopes to build up a picture of society expects.
Morris says he has tried to increase public awareness of censorship issues by printing and distributing to shops an information pamphlet.
POLICE
Morris also told the Times he plans to speak to the Police about their role in enforcing the Censorship Act. It is the responsibility of the Police to enforce the Act but Morris claims low priority has been accorded this responsibility.
The lack of enforcement is evident Morris says in the huge drop off in fees being paid by retail outlets.
According to Morris, fees collected are down 65 per cent this year. He says around $6,000 in fees has been paid this year. Three years ago, some $40,000 was paid. Morris says at present only one retail outlet is submitting videos for rating.
Morris says the office of the Censor can be close to self funding. That is if more retail outlets submitted material (including DVDs and Videos) for censoring and rating and if fees which have not been increased for a long time are raised to a level which reflects the current input required.
Morris believes the lack of material being submitted is probably because most of it is pirated. Also some retailers think because the material has already been rated overseas, for example New Zealand, that no further rating is necessary. Morris says the 1985 legislation does not allow for this and it is timely that the legislation be reviewed.

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