MOVING PICTURE FILMS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 9

MOVING PICTURE FILMS

In a letter to The Post, Mr. E. J. Righton, chairman of the Motion Pictur* Association of New Zealand, refers to a paragraph that apears in Thursday's issue on the subject of a meeting of film-renters^ and exhibitors. He states, on behalf "of the Provincial Executive Committee appointed,! that the conference was duly called and attended by over sixty exhibitors and film-renters from all parts'of the Dominion; 1 that the proceedings were taken "in camera" ; that there were many points of interest to picture showmen discussed, and decisions arrived at, but (he adds) out unofficial report was quite misleading. The first resolution passed at the conference was actually framed as follows :—"That this meeting of representatives of all branches of the motion picture industry in New Zealand resolves to oppose the taking of any steps to compel exhibitors to show a minimum or maximum percentage of the film productions of any one country, on the ground that such a restriction destroys the freedom of every exhibitor in supplying his public with, the classes of goods they demand." In support of the foregoing resolution, every speaker (and they were numerous) spoke in most patriotic terms regarding British films, but regretted that'the experience gained by them generally was disastrous when screening productions of the Old Country. Members of the industry contended- that the British films, as with films of all countries, must win on their merits. ;

The reference to the taxation on film, states Mr. Righton, was also n.ost misleading, as the decision arrived at on the matter was contained in the following resolution :—''Thai this meeting of representatives of all branches of the motion picture industry in New Zealand resolves to oppose any imposition of duty on film, on the grounds that as the industry is already unduly burdened by the amusement tax, a duty would involve double impost, and the industry in its present condition is ■wholly unable to bear further taxation." Mr. Righton gives his assurance that on the question of compulsory membership of the association, our report conveyed an impression that was far from the spirit of the meeting.