ORCHESTRAS BARRED

Evening Star, Issue 20586, 11 September 1930, Page 3

ORCHESTRAS BARRED

MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS ALLEGED AMERICAN BOYCOTT [From Odr. I’aeliambntakt Report**.] WELLINGTON, September 10. Another instance of threatened boycotting of New Zealand theatres by the American film companies was alleged by Mr Semple (Wellington East) in an urgent question to Mr de. la Pcrrelle (Minister of Internal Affairs). “Is the Minister aware,” Mr Semple asked, “that quite recently some of the Auckland picture theatre proprietors disposed of American ‘tin can’ music, and re-employed local musicians, and that the proprietors were given notice by the American Film Company that, unless they discharged the musicians and reinstalled the American music, their film supplies would be cut off;-' If the Minister is aware of this form of boycott and victimisation against the picture proprietors and New Zealand musicians, will he take the necessary steps to prevent it?” The Minister replied that careful inquiries were mado some time ago by the officers of the department, but tNe information obtained did not support the suggestion contained in Mr Semple’s question. “The reason generally given by theatre proprietors for not employing an orchestra,” the Minister added, “ was that, owing to the fact that most pictures now have a dialogue accompaniment, there was very little work for an orchestra; and, in view of the greatly increased cost cl films and sound equipment, the expense was not warranted. The department is watching the position closely, and is prepared to do anything possible to encourage the employment of New Zealand musicians. It is understood that oYchestras have been reintroduced into a number of Australian theatres, and it is hoped that if the experiment is successful the same action will bo taken by the New Zealand exhibitors.