MOTION PICTURES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 109, 1 February 1929, Page 13

MOTION PICTURES

DOMINION CONFERENCE OF EXHIBITORS

BRITISH FILMS TO GET PREFERENCE

The’ annual Conference of the New Zealand Motion Picture Exhibitors was held in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr. O. N. Gillespie, ActingPresident of the association, presided over an attendance of 32 delegates, representing districts as far apart as Whangarel and Invercargill. The Quota Bill.

The report mentioned that the Kinematograph Films Bill had been introduced into Parliament early iu the session. The Bill, as brought down, was different in many respects' from the Bill introduced the previous year. The changes were largely in the direction of the consolidation and co-ordination of previous legislation dealing with censorship, and the-safeguarding of film and theatres from fire and panics. The Bill was amended in many important respects, and it may almost be said that short of surrendering the main principle of the Bill, the Government met us in every way possible. The decision of our conference to ask the Government to make the quota voluntary for exhibitors, was given effect to, and this concession was obtained. In "other respects it may fairly be claimed that exhibitors as a whole have gained the recognition of certain principles in regard to the making of contracts, etc. That part of the quota section of the Bill which still applies to exhibitors, comes into force on October 1, and makes it compulsory for all exhibitors to keep a record of programmes screened. Prior to that date, a new set of regulations will be gazetted. It is further provided in the Act that an Advisory Board shall be set up representing both renting and exhibiting sides of the industry for the purpose of smoothing out difficulties as they may arise. This Act, of course, represents some important changes in regard to the status of the industry, and whatever objection we may have to Government regulation, there is always the other view that such legislation is an official recognition of the national importance of the motion picture business.” In moving the adoption of the report, Mr. Gillespie referred to the splendid work which had been done by the executive last year in reference to legislation and other matters. The work of the secretary’s-office had multiplied greatly, and the association had indeed become a live body. Country members particularly had been rendered great service, and the association had helped forward a better and more' businesslike understanding between the exhibitors and the film exchanges. The fact that the Government had accepted the association’s undertaking to voluntarily carry out the British quota requirements of the Kinematograph Act was a tribute to the association’s standing. The Government had virtually asked them to accept a trust, an attitude, .which was somewhat unique in legislative control. He dealt in detail with many other matters, and after Messrs. H. W. Shortt (Wellington) and H. Thompson (Napier) had endorsed the acting-president’s remarks, the report was adopted. Government Sympathy.

After the luncheon adjournment,. Mr. Newton (Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs) and Mr. R. Girling Butcher (chief inspector of explosives) addressed the conference, and apologised for the unavoidable absence of their respective Ministers. Both speakers referred to the legislation which had been recently passed and' asked for the co-operation of the motion picture exhibitors in carrying out its purposes. Each stressed that it was not the intention of the Departments to impose any avoidable hardships on the business. Their sentiments were heartily reciprocated by the chairman and other delegates, and an assurance was given that British pictures would get every preference. Election of Officers. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, Mr. AV. R„ Kemball (Wellington) ; vice-president, Mr. O. N. Gillespie (Wellington) ; executive, Messrs.. E. J. Righton, Beaumont Smith, Garnet Saunders, A. J. McCurdy, E. Morse; W. H. Shortt, and F. Jackson; Dominion secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. Robertson.

■ Au invitation was conveyed from the Government Publicity Department to visit the film studio at Miramar, and a large number of delegates signified their intention to accept the invitatioii.