Tatler News No 2, Dr Maloney MLA (c.1934)
Synopsis
This newsreel item made by Frank Thring’s Efftee Film Productions features a speech by physician-cum-parliamentarian Dr William Maloney MLA. Dr Maloney expresses his concerns about social injustice and poverty, addresses the issue of women’s voting rights and approves the removal of the word 'illegitimate’ from the birth registry.
Curator’s notes
Dr William Maloney held the Federal seat of Melbourne from 1904 until his death in 1940 at age 86. This speech looks back on his political life and presents his vision for the country’s future. Maloney’s campaign to remove the word 'illegitimate’ from the birth registry and replace it with 'ex-nuptial’ was motivated by personal experience – Maloney himself was an 'ex-nuptial’ child – and he sees this as one of his greatest achievements for children of the future.
Most of the speech is delivered calmly to camera but Maloney becomes impassioned when he says 'there is something wrong when men, women and children, in the midst of plenty, are in want’. The speech was filmed by Frank Thring for a special edition of Tatler News on Maloney’s 80th birthday and was screened at Thring’s Tatler Theatrette in Melbourne in 1934.
- Overview
- Curator’s notes
- Video full title
- Principal credits
- Find a copy
- Make a comment
- Add your review
