§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information indicating the attitude or intention of the Colonial Governments regarding legislation embodying the quota system as introduced into the British Government's Cinematograph Films Bill; and whether he has received any particulars of British films that have been censored and banned our Colonies and Protectorates?
§ Mr. AMERYWhile I cannot say that Colonial Governments have actually introduced any such legislation, they will no 1365W doubt consider, in connection with the Report of the recent Colonial Office Conference, what the most suitable means are for the local encouragement of British films. I may say that the Colonial Office Conference recorded their concurrence in the terms of the Resolution of the Imperial Conference, 1926, on the subject of films and expressed approval of the principle of the legislation introduced in the British Parliament, recommending the Measure to the consideration of the Governments of all the Dependencies with a view to similar action being taken wherever practicable. They also expressed the hope that an effective British distributing agency for the whole Empire would be constituted by the trade.
As regards the second part of the question, I am unable to give a complete list of films that have been banned either in whole or in part in the Colonies and other Dependencies, but it has been brought to my notice that the following British films, "The Only Way," "Moon of Israel," and "Owd Bob," were banned by the local censorship authority at
1366W
Month. Number of Persons Killed. Number of Persons Seriously Injured.* Number of Persons Disabled for more than three days. 1925. April … … … … 84 371 15,043 May … … … … 87 354 15,092 June … … … … 80 288 13,438 July … … … … 91 355 17,372 August … … … … 87 295 12,450 September … … … … 79 379 13,825 October … … … … 100 342 15,021 November … … … … 103 357 14,252 December … … … … 116 391 14,093 1926. January … … … … 87 402 15,888 February … … … … 113 407 15,617 March … … … … 110 432 17,751 April … … … … 98 434 17,146 December … … … … 98 390 11,715 1927. January … … … … 76 416 Not yet available. February … … … … 94 399 March … … … … 155 510 April … … … … 101 383 May … … … … 99 421 * These particulars refer to accidents which, because of their nature are required to be reported to the Inspectors of Mines at the time of their occurrence. They include (a) accidents causing fracture of head or limb, or dislocation of limb, or any other serious personal injury; (b) accidents caused by explosion of gas or dust, or any other explosive or by electricity or by overwinding, and causing any personal injury whatever. The majority of these persons were disabled for more than three days and are included in the following column. Singapore, and that the decision in the case of "The Only Way" arid "Owd Bob" was upheld by the Appeal Committee, and in the other case, the film was passed by the Committee for exhibition in a modified form.
As regards the ban placed on "The Only Way," I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 14th February to the question by the hon. Member for Kingston-on-Thames (Mr. Penny).