FILMS BILL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 November 1927, Page 6

FILMS BILL

MR COATES’S STATEMENT,

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, November 25.

The following is a statement made ’ in the House of Representatives tonight by the Prime when introducing the Cinematograph Film Bill, which', he stated, generally followed the lines of a Bill now under consideration by the Parliament of Great Britain. He explained the Bill’s provisions on the following matters: —

Section 3 provided for the prohibition of agreements to exhibit a film for more than 12 months after the date of the agreement. . Section.five provides that the exhibitol* is- to have the right to reject five per cent, of the films booked by him before they have been exhibited in New Zealand. This clause is in substitution, for the British provision that no agreement to rent films shall’ be valid until the film is actually in the country. This provision is not considered feasible in New Zealand. The registration of films is provided for in Section six, that of renters in Section 16, and that of exhibitors in Section 22. There, is provision for the registration of films as New Zealand films, British films, and foreign filinsi

The ■ quota of British or New Zealand films to he acquired, by renters, commencing from January 1, 1929, is fixed at 7 A per cent, and is to . rise yearly to 20 per cent, in 1936, remaining at the same percentage for four succeeding years. This is provided for in Clause 16. Then follows an exhibitors’ quota, commencingison. duty 1, 1929, at 5 per cent, in 1937, remain-* ing at the same percentage for the four succeeding years. This is provided for in Clause 23. This, quota, applies only to feature films, but other specified films may be included with the permission of the Minister. The, provisions of the Bill are kept nine months behind the proposed provisions of the British Bill in order to allow time for the arrival of films in New Zealand.

A new provision, not contained in the British Bill, is inserted, providing for a tax on the gross returns ,from the renting of films as follows: N.Z. films, 5 per-cent; British films 7 1 per cent; foreign films 12J per cent. This tax will take effect in the. year. 1929, ' and the total amount of the tax, combined with existing customs tariff, will be less than the amount that would have -.been obtained under the 3D Tariff under the proposed tariff duty. This is estimated .to yield from thirty to forty thousand sterling annually. The Bill Is introduced this year in order to allow time for its consideration *by all concerned.. It will not be passed this year. 4