FILM "BOYCOTT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 8

FILM "BOYCOTT."

LIKELY TO COLLAPSE?

GOVERNMENT FIRM.

DISTRIBUTORS DISUNITED.

DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTRALIA.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

-'■No move will be made by the Government to end the threatened boycott of New Zealand by the American film producers, for following a Cabinet, meeting on Friday last, it is learned that their decision is that the tax on film producers' profits must stand.

It is known that the Gover'nment considers that film exhibitors in New Zealand are worse off than Australian exhibitors in the matter of charges for film. ~

Matters are expected to reach a head this week; as Sir Victor Wilson, president. of. the Motion Picture Distributors' Association of Australia and New Zealand, asked the acting-Prime Minister last Thursday if lie might have a week's grace before the Government was apprised of his final decision. There is a growing belief among exhibitors that the whole boycott is being staged in order to save the face of this gentleman, who visited New Zealand when the Government's taxation proposals were first announced, and later informed his principals, the Motion Picture Distributors' Association of America, that nc action would be taken in the direction of increasing the taxation upon American film companies. If no action is taken .before the end. of the week, it isbelieved that 'the whole boycott will collapse. * '

As far as their move may have been designed to force the exhibitors to intercede with the Government on their behalf, the action of the film distributors has failed. The film exhibitors have decided that even if they wished to do so, to intercede with the Government would only be to incur the displeasure of the authorities, especially as they are convinced that the film distributors arc able, to pay the additional tax because of their increased earnings from talkies. Hence, no move will be forthcoming from this quarter.

Fox Interests' Threat,

An interesting turn has been given to events by the authenticated report that there is dissension in the ranks of the film distributors themselves. This is due to the fact that Fox Films have recently negotiated the purchase of Hovts Theatres in Australia at a price of over £2,000,000. Hoyts Theatres were controlled by two. groups, one of whom was Messrs. J'. C. Williamso'.i, and it is now reported that consequent upon this deal Fox (with whom Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are-* associated) are likely to take control of the Williamson .picture theatres in New Zealand. More important still, it is stated that they have threatened to withdraw from the Motion Picture Distributors' Association xmless they are allowed a free hand in the New Zealand field. If this is correct it niea'ns that the boycott, having failed on one flank, is now to be menaced upon ; another. A wider aspect of the matter is that Fox, if trading in New Zealand, could not refuse to supply theatre's other than their own, as this would render them liable to be dealt with by the Board of Trade.

In any case, the- end of this week is expected to see the climax of. the matter.