Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918 (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1918. No. 128.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE CUSTOMS ACT 1901-1916.

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Customs Act 1901-1916, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this fifteenth day of May, 1918.

R. M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

J.A. JENSEN,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

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CUSTOMS (CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS) REGULATIONS.

Short title

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations, except where otherwise clearly indicated—

“Film” means a cinematograph film imported into Australia and intended for exhibition.

“Commonwealth Board of Censors” or “the Board” means the Board appointed and authorized by the Minister to exercise the powers conferred by these Regulations, and such other powers as the Minister confers upon the Board by delegation under his hand.

“Minister” means the Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

“The Schedule” means the Schedule to these Regulations.

Registration of films.

3. No film shall be delivered from Customs control until it has been submitted to, and registered by, the Commonwealth Board of Censors.

Form of Application.

4. Applications for registration of a film shall be made in Form 1 of the Schedule, and shall be accompanied by a synopsis specifying all the scenes contained in the film.

Fee.

5. Each application for registration shall be accompanied by a fee of Five shillings for each reel in the film.

Examination of Applications.

6. The Commonwealth Board of Censors shall examine each application for registration of a film, and may, subject to these Regulations—

(a)approve the film unconditionally, in which case a certificate of registration in Form 2 of the Schedule shall be issued; or

(b) approve the film subject to such conditions as the Board imposes, in which case a certificate of registration in Form 3 of the Schedule shall be issued; or

(c) refuse approval and registration of the film, in which case a certificate in Form 4 of the Schedule shall be issued.

 

Bars to registration.

7. No film, shall be registered which, in the opinion of the Board—

(a) is blasphemous, indecent, or obscene; or

(b) is likely to be injurious to morality, or to encourage or incite to crime; or

(c) is likely to be offensive to any Ally of Great Britain; or

(d)depicts any matter the exhibition of which is undesirable in the public interests.

Screenings.

8. The Board may require any films submitted for registration to be screened for its inspection. Such screening shall be carried out at the expense and risk of the importer.

Posters, lists of sub-titles may be required.

9. The Board may require the importer to furnish one copy of each imported poster, sketch, and programme intended to be used in connexion with the exhibition of the film in Australia, and a statement showing, in full, the introductory remarks and each sub-title embodied in the film.

Security for observance of conditions.

10. The Board may require the importer to furnish security for the fulfilment of any conditions imposed by the Board in respect of any films submitted for registration.

Unauthorized alterations in films after registration not permitted.

11. Each film registered by the Board must be exhibited exactly in the form and under the name in which it is registered, without any alteration or addition unless, the consent in writing of the Board is first obtained thereto.

Board may cancel certificate.

12. The Board may at any time—

(a) revoke any certificate of registration; or

(b)where a film has been approved unconditionally and a certificate of registration in Form 2 of the Schedule has been issued, impose such conditions as to the future exhibition of the film as the Board thinks fit; or

(c) where a film has been approved subject to conditions imposed by the Board and a certificate of registration in Form 3 of the Schedule has been issued, impose such fresh or additional conditions as to the future exhibition of the film as the Board thinks fit.

Form of revocation of registration.

13. The revocation of a certificate of registration shall be in Form 5 of the Schedule.

Registration to imply consent of Minister.

14. Any film, in respect of which the Board issues a certificate of registration, shall be deemed to have been imported with the written permission of the Minister.

Films not approved, &c, deemed prohibited imports.

15. Any film in respect of which—

(a)the Board issues a certificate of refusal to register; or

(b)the Board has revoked the certificate of registration; or

(c) the conditions imposed by the Board as to exhibitions of the film have not been complied with,

shall be deemed to be a prohibited import within the meaning of the Customs Act 1901-1916 and of the proclamation dated the 14th February, 1917, issued under that Act and published in the Commonwealth Gazette, No. 26, of 15th February, 1917.

16. The Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1917 (Statutory Rules 1917, No. 40, as amended by Statutory Rules 1917, No. 178) are hereby repealed.

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FORM 1.

Commonwealth of Australia.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Application for the Registration of a Cinematograph Film.

…………………………………..

................................................................19

To the Commonwealth Board of Censors.

Sir,

I hereby make application for the registration, under the Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918, of the undermentioned film:—

Title of Film...............................................................................................................................

Name of Producer.............................................Class of Film..................................................

No. of Reels...................................No. of Copies being imported into Australia....................

Ex s.s.......................	Port(s) of ....................................
*Ex Parcels Post.	Destination .....................................
....................................

Herewith is forwarded a synopsis specifying all the scenes contained in the film.

I undertake that, in consideration of the registration of the Film and its admission into the Commonwealth, it will be exhibited exactly in the form and under the name in which it is registered, without any alteration or addition, unless the consent in writing of the Commonwealth Board of Censors is first obtained thereto.

The prescribed fee of Five shillings per reel is forwarded herewith.

I certify that the Film is not—

(a) blasphemous, indecent, or obscene; or

(b) likely to be injurious to morality, or to encourage or incite to crime; or

(c) of a character likely to be offensive to any Ally of Great Britain.

………………………………………..

Owner or Agent.

FORM 2.

No...............

Commonwealth of Australia.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Certificate of Registration.

The Film………….......................................produced by……...............................................and. imported by.............................................................has been approved and registered for general exhibition.

Dated at…………….................this……………...........day of.............................19......

……………………………………………………….

Chairman, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

…..…………………………………………………..

Secretary, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

__________________________________________________________________________________

* Strike out the words which do not apply.

FORM 3.

No.............

Commonwealth of Australia.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Certificate of Registration.

The Film........................…………………..produced by.........................................................and imported by........................................has been approved and registered for exhibition subject to the following conditions, which shall apply to any exhibition of the Film in Australia, whether by the original importer, subsequent purchaser, or any other person exhibiting the Film.

Dated at.....................................this............................day of....................................19...........

…………………………………………………………

Chairman, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

…………………………………………………………

Secretary, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

 

FORM 4.

No.....................

Commonwealth of Australia.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Refusal to Register.

To............................

Take notice that registration is refused in respect of the Film........................................produced by...................................and submitted by you to the Board on the………………..............day of................19.................

Dated at………….........................this.............................................day of.....................19…............

…………………………………………………………

Chairman, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

…………………………………………………………

Secretary, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

 

FORM 5.

No................

Commonwealth of Australia.

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations 1918.

Revocation of Certificate of Registration.

To............................

Take notice that the Certificate of Registration No...........................................issued on the..................day of......................19…...., in respect of the Film...............................produced by....................has been revoked.

Dated at....................................this………………...........day of……………...............19………....

…………………………………………………………

Chairman, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

…………………………………………………………

Secretary, Commonwealth Board of Censors.

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Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.