AMERICAN FILMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 220, 17 September 1930, Page 11

AMERICAN FILMS.

'NEW TAX IN NEW ZBALANp. DISCUSSED BY BUSINESS MEN. ■ ■• . ■ ' - ■-' '.'. . ■' '■ ■■' * I :. ..':'. HUMOUR, OF BOYCOTT. .;. .•'. J v, , .(By'Telegraph.—Press Association;) $ * ,\ • WELLINGTON,- this day;;, : The ■withdrawal of American, »from New Zealand as a reply to-the, I'new tax was the subject of /discussion' l.ata meeting of the Wellington'.Chamber ■'of •Commerce- this evening. A; .motion. urging the Government to [iti' decision and not allow outside, to dictate its policy was defeated oh' the ; voices and an amendment that■•! the,Jques-. tion should be investigated by'~the ini- • porters and exporters' 'committee. of y-tlie' council was carried. ' ~,•-" '" r . - ' Mr, A. -Seed/"'"\vho.' moved'.the\ amend foment,"" said that apparently ...a- rstrorig., effort' was being made to'.. boycottv the..

country iwith a- view- toViriakirig the Government taxation;which it.had industry Vshpuld bear. Personally, he thought New Zealand. could well xlo with, a:.holiday irpm American pictures. .

■ Mr. C. J. B. who seconded tlieJmotion pro forma, said, he was wondering whether the chamber ought to pass such a. resolution.'witli, the information at its disposal. He did n6t know how- far .reaching, the. tax was, 'but he did know that if it had 'the. effect of shutting..,- down picture,-,'shows ;, many people would foe thrown: out of work; and all because perhaps New Zealand desired to assert..her; dignity; ,Ho"was n.ot qonversant "with the "real-."position' arid' he suggested that -the- chamber ■' would be well/advised .to give. the, 'question the fullest before coming to a decision. .'f', . ''..;" :"- : ; -.

v \,;Mr.;.:C; f_W; Buddr , sai'd 'he'understood tliat. many : of the; companies were not paying income .tax and ;if ;th£lt was true ■lie/ thought the-.',Government's ■'-proposalu were, fair, and equitable.;;'At all events ■the. position- required investigation. . • %lv. :E. E. Edndei: saidjlie had' been led to believe that-."the 'Government had .budgeted'for,:£3oo,opo":-from the film industry.- The-fignres. showed that revenue would amount to £79,000. >He supported

."'•■; i. -■-" * ■...-, ■ /■■■■,-:■■■'-.. ■■:■'.'' : ,' :, - : - the contention,that thejnitter,required investigation, -and moved that vthei importers ;and exporters , :,cbnimittee ]b& in-: structed to investigate and report. : . ; The; -motion was defeated, and the amendment carried. . ' .