Filmindia (1941)

Home Member Severely Heckled About Film Advisory Board Affairs Official Facts And Figures Revive The Sorry Tale (The "Expose" of the Film Advisory Board, which appeared in the February issue of "filmindia" had its sequel in a number of interpellations asked by Mr. Govind V. Deshmukh, M.L.A.. Sardar Sant Singh, M.L.A., and Diwan Lalchand Navalrai, M.L.A., on the Central Assembly floor. The questions were asked on the 14th and 22nd March 1941 and replies were given by the Hon. Sir Reginald Maxwell, Home Member to the Government of India. Both the questions and the replies reproduced below with the supplementary questions are arranged according to the relevancy of the sub.iects under separate heads: The Editor). DRAWING ATTENTION THROUGH THE C.I.D. Sardar Sant Singh: "Will the Honourable the Home Member be pleased to state whether Government's attention has been drawn to an article published in the "filmindia", in its issue of February, 1941, on page 15, by Mr. Baburao Patel under the caption "Stop this waste of public money?" The Hon. Sir Reginald Maxwell: "Yes." Sardar Sant Singh: "Is it a fact that the writer was called by the Criminal Investigation Department and given a warning? If so, what was the nature of the warning, and why was it considered necessary to give it?" The Hon. Sir R. Maxwell: "Yes. He was warned against publishing the contents, of a confidential Government document and told that he would expose himself to prosecution if he did so. The warning was given because he had stated to various persons that the document was in his possession or that he had had access to it and that he proposed to publish it or make use of it." Sardar Sa7it Singh: "Is it a fact that such warning was given under the Defence of India Rules?" The Hon. Sir R. Maxwell: "No, out Mr. Baburao Patel was warned that, in certain circumstances, action could be taken against him under the Defence of India Rules." Mr. G. V. Deshmukh: "Was that warning based on , sound grouncG or was it merely a bluff?" The Hci:. Sir R. Maxwell: "II was considered advisable to dvaw the gentleman's attention to the risk he ran. EDUCATIONISTS AND PUBLICISTS NOT WANTED. Mr. G. V. Deshmukh: "Will the Honourable the Home Member be pleased to state the films produced so far by the Film Advisory Board to fulfil the original objects of the Board? Who are the members of the Board and what are their qualifications? Are they elected or nominated to the Board?" The Hvn. Sir R. Maxwell: "The Film Advisory Board has not hitherto produced films but has advised Government regarding their production. I lay a statement on the table showing: — (1) the films produced by Government under contract with various producing companies, and (2) the members of the Board. The qualifications required of the members are knowledge of the film industry on the producing or distributing sides and. in the case of Mr. Smith, general business experience in the control of expenditure, etc. The members of the Board were nominated." Mr. G. V. Deshmukh: "Are Government prepared to compose this Board of members who are educationists and publicists and are conversant with mass psychology?" The Hon. Sir R. Maxwell: "No. The function of the Board is to advise Government on technical questions relating to the production and distribution of films." Statements laid on the table in connection with the reply to Mr. G. V. Deshmukh 's question — Ref. part (11): The Hon. Sir Reginald Maxwell, Home Member to the Government of India who gave a valiant performance in answering queries about the Film Advisory Board, 51