Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents

ionable Pu

"intimate exciting romance", and so-called "comics" have all been blamed for exciting erotic feelings in children. The sugge

armful to girls than to boys in that girls more readily identify themselves with the chief characters. One striking piece of information which was conveyed to the Committee was that the girls under detention in a certain instit

to children and adolescents that their sale should not be permitted. But, while all the publications sent are objectionable in varying deg

intended for adults are controlled by the Indecent Publications Act (which in the opinion of that Committee, was adequate providing t

ality adults. Both styles and variations of them circulate widely in New Zealand among children and adolescents. In general, however, younger children buy, and even prefer, the genuine comic which is n

are strong doubts whether the adoption of those proposals would provide a satisfactory solution. Once registration were obtained (which would

ould be to make initial registration more diffi

rd of publications distributed in Australia, and consequently in New Zealand. On the other hand, this tightening of th

matter injurious to children should be the sub

used as a market to offset any tra

people who seek to lead children thr

ublications likely to be injurious to the minds of childre

Government to promote special legislation along the lines of

police themselves to institute proceedings for breaches of the Act, but it also compels all distributors to be registered. Then, should a d

wsagent or bookseller, who has to accept the bad before he can get the good, the Comm

Fi

ent Film Censor interprets his role chiefly as one of guiding parents. On occasions he bans a film; more often he makes cuts in films; most often he recommends a restriction of attenda

bout one-quarter of all films advertised in the press were advertised with wrong certificates. Reliance upon suc

they were taken, convictions would be recorded. Some regulations (essential for this purpose)

d exhibiting interests state that they are complying with the spirit of the unwritten l

n which sex and sadism are often featured. The theatre managers concerned sta

ult to censor adequately and, because of their origin and intent, are designed to have an exaggerated impa

s: In the words of the exhibitors, this

restricted attendance exhibited at the theatre may have little effect. Should the age be queried when entry is sought, an incorrect answer will probably be given. Worst of all, p

hildren, adolescents, and undesirable persons may behave improp

steps reco

nding regulations empowered by

tent possible of non-restricted or "

hat through the censor's certificates they, the parents, have a reliable

roadc

a song, or the incidents of a serial, may more readily give offence. Obviously, the New Zealand Broadcasting Service can never please each individual listener, but, equally obviously, it should seek to avoid giving any public offence. The S

roadcasting Service, after which they are classified as suitable for children's sessions, for general sessions, or only for times when children are assumed not to be listening. The Service can, and does, reject episodes from overseas features, and in doing so experiences no difficu

in not allowing their children to listen after 7 p.m. when programmes specially suited for them cease. This assumption, however, is not well founded. Once switched on, the radio frequently stays on, and children are th

at adolescents listen until a very late hour, particularly on holidays, and for this last-named fact no allowance is made when the programmes are being arranged. Adolescents listening to the latest songs stimulate the demand for p

t provided that the Service is adamant in its rule that "crime must never pay" loss of

ent the Service should critically re-examine its programmes in order to remove any wrongful impression that might be created, either by a too fr

ew its ideas about children's listening hours

dcast it should be made obv

well be included on

ill still rest upon the parents, who should select their children's p

ss Adve

ore based on sex attraction, horror, and crime, occupy a large and increasing proportion of all advertising. Because this trend is obviously objectionable to a section of the community, such advertising must partially fail in its object of attracting. In addition, this

Tele

e. Overseas reports of its effects on children, adolescents, and even adults indicate

eight to the suggestion made to the Committee that liaison shou

y countries. The Committee has made its recommendations in this section of the report fully aware that many auth

Committee is firmly of the opinion that practical measures to control what is offensive to many would be an indication of a renewed