I move that the Title of the Bill be "An Act to provide for the Official Censoring of Cinematograph Pictures and Optical Effects, and for other matters connected therewith."
CENSORSHIP OF FILMS BILL, 1923. - TITLE.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
Would the Minister consider the advisability of leaving out the expression "and optical effects" from the title? That expression has no very definite meaning; it does not look well, and it is provided for already by the Definition Clause, because the Definition Clause says "the word `picture' includes any optical effect produced by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus." The expression in the Title is a clumsy one, and open to a good deal of misconception, and so far as the object for which it is inserted is required, I think it is covered by the words I have quoted in the Definition Clause. For instance, there is no provision in this Bill for censoring the effects produced by mirrors. Whatever is to be censored must be produced by the cinematograph or similar apparatus. Reflections by mirrors would not come in under that. Therefore, I suggest that these words should be left out of the Title, as I think all that is needed is covered by the Definition Clause.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I accept the amendment.
Amendment:—"That the words `and optical effects' be deleted from the Title," put and agreed to.
Question: That the Title, as amended be the Title of the Bill," put and agreed to.