FILMS AND THE YOUNG
Sta,—From time to time it is suggested in The Spectator correspondence that the films are the chief source of danger to youthful morality. This, of course, is a debatable subject, but I should like to draw the attention of all men and women out to create a better Britain and to " begin with the children " to the existence and progress of a movement within the cinema industry itself to harness the child-mind to noble ends. I refer to the National Cinema Club for Boys and Girls established by Mr. J. Arthur Rank about a year ago in connexion with his vast chain of picture houses. " Good Conduct Clubs " might be a suitable name for the numerous branches of this national club organisation, which now numbers about 15o,000 members. Certainly such a name is justified when it is realised that every club member is pledged to tell the truth, to help other people, to obey their parents, to be thoughtful of old folks, kind to animals, play the game, and to try to make this great country of ours a better place to live in. In a talk with Mr. E. McQuaid, the Controller of the.National Club, recently, I found out that not only were the children themselves enthusiastic about club membership but that many cinema managers were putting their brains into the task of making decent citizens out of " cinema-minded " children. Surely a movement such as this, therefore, is a valuable ally to the Youth Ser- vice plans of the Government and an equally valuable asset to the
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