fo the Editor of the "Norri-Cixa Dairy New:
Sm.—The criticisms which have recently appeared in your coin: Jon the above subject, and whi received editorial endorsement in your leading article on the 10th instant, appear to have been based partly on a misconception of actual facts and partly on the personal animus of your correspondent, Dr. Fernbach, against some member oF members of the Board of Censors.
The Board consists of six memlvers, two of whom are the official representatives of the Governing Bodies of the International Settle-
Jment and the French Coticession respectively. The nther four are nominees of the Shanghai Municipal Council, one being a Chinese gentleman (whose views, according to your correspondent, "command unqualified respect") two are ladies (one of American ind one of Eng-"lish nationality) and the fourth is the writer of this letter. Presumably, therefore, the "foundlings" so wittily (7) and delicately referred to by Dr. Fernbach are to be identified amongst the three Inst mentioned members of the Board and the inference that he is actuated by personal animus is unavoidable. If he is dissatisfied with the constitution of the Board, may I suggest that he should address himself to the authorities responsible for the formation of that body instead of venting his spleen in the public press, as I feel sure that if he has a genuine grievance against us his protests will meet with th consideration they deserve?
The Board of Censors—who are not called upon to exercise their functions until after the Police have seen a film and formed an adverse opinion on it—act entirely in an advisory capacity and have no power either to approve or to ban a film, the final decision resting with the municipal authorities. The Board is in no way concerned with either the technique or the cost of producing of any film submitted to its inspection; it merely assists the police in forming an opinion to its suitability for public exhib tion, within the limits prescribed by the muneipal authorities, which are by no means as wide as Dr. Fernbach would seem to imply. This is not to say, however, that members of the Board are not occa. sonally asked to express an opi fon as to the suitability of a film jon in a cosmopolitan ticularly with a view to the effect it may have on Chinese spectators; but I emphasize again that this expression of opinion earies no weight other than that which may choose to attach to it, as emanating from their own nominees.
Tam, ete, E, Goroox Lowen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.