Fatuous notion

The conclusion, irrespective of one's views on censorship in general, is that none of these films should have been banned. The situation is entirely ridiculous I am reminded of Lord Goddard's faluous notion that whereas hanging was good for Britons (stolid, respectable) it was ineffective as a deterrent when it came to foreigners (presumably unpredictable and excitable).

Thus these films can be screened in New York and London but not in Wellington, since such traumatic experiences would not be good for the New Zealand audience. There would, presumably, be rioting in the streets or an increase in the crime rate, but I have yet to hear of such phenomena following screenings of these films in other countries. Our censors must surely realise that today's New Zealand cinema audience is far more sophisticated and hard-headed than its counterpart of 20 years ago.

I suppose that in a few years from now that sell-appointed purveyor of film culture in New Zealand, the Federation of Film Societies, will persuade the censor that some of these films should be released for screening to "selected audiences," but I would rather not see them at all than condone and participate in such an absurd conspiracy.