London, Aug. 18.
The report of the Colonial Committee has been issued.
The Committee, under the chairmanship of Captain Sir William Brass, Conservative M. P. for the Clitheroe division of Lancashire, was appointed in March, 1929, by Mr. L. S. Amery, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, "to examine the arrangement for the supply and censorship of cinematograph films for public exhibition in the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories, and to consider in what way these arrangements could be improved The findings of the Colonial Ofice Conference on the Committee's report and a despatch from the Colonial Secretary to the admin-Istrations of the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories, indicating the action which it is proposed to take, have also been. published.
The Committee's report suggests various practical measures by which. a plant can be installed and an experiment begun with a view to developing the use of the graph as an instrament of educa tion.
The Colonial Office Conference emphasizes the importance of the use of films in education, especially with primitive peoples and not only for children but also for adults, regards the supply of British)
the Committee points out that,' at present, the market in the Colonial Empire is largely dominate ed by foreign films.
'Apart from existing cinemas, the Committee cally attention to' the possibility that in certain directions the market may be expanded. For example, there are only 38 cinemas in British territory in tropical Africa, though the population is approximately 26,000,000, 'The Committee also' calls attention to the importance of taking steps new in order that British dustry may get a footing in this market. It accordingly suggests the creation of a small central organization in London, under the auspices of the Federation of British Industries, to act as a cen-
'A small government guarantee is suggested during the initial year of operation of the supervisory board for this organization.
On the question of censorship, the Committee points out the danger of demoralizing films. It suggests certain measures for the stiffening of local censorship arrangements and also suggests that all films going to tropical Africa should be carefully examined by the Colonial The Committee points out, however, that apart from the negative aspect of censorship, the positive] aspect of fostering the supply of good films must also be considered. Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.