QUOTA LIKELY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 7

QUOTA LIKELY

AUSTRALIAN FILMS

ACTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES

. A'quota for Australian films .is, likely; to be introduced in New NSoutli Wales, says the] "Sydney Morning Herald." Mr. F. \V. Marks, ,who inquired into certain aspects of the film industry,, recommends it in his third and. final report. 'The Cabinet will disotisis.it at an.early meeting, and will 'probably; draft the necessary legislation.-■-■-•'' - The evidence tendered at thejinquiry, Mr. Marks says, did;not dis'ql|)so.;"con/ditions which, required the.'establishment.of a board to control>the industry.

Mr. Marks made' no recommendation about, the provision of suitable- films for children. Ho recommended, against legislation to restrict, licences! for" additional theatres, or to restriet'rlicenees to British, subjects. Ho also, .recommended against legislative action' t* limit or'restrict blind and block booking of-films,' or to: provide in- -film hiring contracts a clause which would confer upon exhibitors a right of rejecting a percentage of the films specified in contracts. V ; _ '■

He further recommended. against legislation to regulate minimum'^admission prices to picture, theatres. : -." "I believe,"says Mr. Marks,. <ftha.t potent. reasons are required 'to. justify the introduction of legislation/to .alter conditions in an industry, which., have been evolved under arid 'comply' with, existing legislation. ' Notwithstanding this view,. I consider that the introduction of a quota for Australian; films justifies special legislation. I regard this matter as of national importance, and my recommendation is actuated by, what I believe. to' bo; the public interest, as. distinct from interestsof the film industry.' 5.-. ..: : Mr. Marks stated that' although British films had: a substantial_preference over foreign productions under the 'Australian Customs;.,. tariff (foreign films being subject to a. duty of fourpence and eightpenee a-fbot, and British films being admitted free),. Australian productions enjoyed:, .nothing like the same advantage's ;uhder the British tariff (having to.pay iwjj-thirds of a penny a foot on"■ positive/prints, compared with one penny-S foot duty on foreign films,, and : three; and onethird pence a foot on negative, prints, compared with fivepencea foot on'foreign films).- "I would suggest," he says, "that representations' should1 be made through the proper .channels • to have rectified 'what appears';to be an anomalous and unfair' cOTjditibn.":.

Mr. Marks adds"that ?'film, distributors of this State might/wqll.consider taking steps to remove. conditions; (in thoir contracts) • which both here : and elsewhere have 'been considered by independent inquirers as deserving > of censure." Mr. Marks suggests the appointment of a committee wij/'ii film industry to deal with the matter. He expresses the opinion that such a committeo "should experience little difficulty in setting a.standard form of contract which, although affording adequate safeguards to distributors, would not deserve the adverse criticism directed at the forms now infuse,-"