FILM TAX STANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 10

FILM TAX STANDS.

GOVERNMENT'S.-DECISION

[J: AMERICANS NOTIFIED,

IMPORTANT MEETING IN NEW

YORK TO-PAY.

v STATEMENT BY SIR V. WILSON.

f (By TeU-grapn.—Special to " Star,")

'= WELLINGTON, this day. The Government has finally refused to reopen the question of the tax on the film producers' profits, upon which negotiations have being going on in Wellington since the arrival of Sir Victor' Wilson, the president of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Sir Victor Wilson informs the "Star" that ho received intimation, of the Govornment's final decision at six o'clock last night in a letter from the ActingPrime Minister, the Hon. E. A, Ransom. He thereupon cabled to New York a full summary of the position, and he has since been advised that representatives of all the film interests affected by the New Zealand Government's deoision will meet at noon to-day in New York to consider it. Sir Victor now awaits instructions. "I am desperately sorry," said Sir Victor, "that a way out of the difficulty has not been found without throwing the industry in this country into such an impasse. I will make.a full statement when I receive a reply from America." ; Statements Deniedi.

Sir Victor categorically denied the statements contained in a "Wellington correspondent's message published in the "Star" on Tuesday, to the effect that the film boycott was being "staged," that it was likely to collapse, and that there was dissension in the ranks of the film distributors themselves. The message, he asserted, \vas ; "absolutely incorrect, , ' Hβ had done everything humanly poseible to overcome, the difficulty, and ho was still doing so." ,

According to a Press Aseociation message from Wellington, Sir Victor Wilson said he had reoeived a letter that the Government was .not prepared to rebpep the investigation or have an inquiry into the position. He proposed to make a complete statement of the whole case within the next day or so, as he. believed that not-only the trade, but the public, was entitled .to know all the circumstances of the present "lock-out" in the film industry. •

, '.'. Sir Victor also said he had a cable weeeage; from Mr. Munrb, acting-manag-ang director of the Fox Corporation, to deny that that organisation contemplates the purchase of theatre interests in New Zealand. Mr. Munro says; "We are not . interested. Please publish denial.'' I "■«.■>