PICTURE THEATRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 June 1937, Page 12

PICTURE THEATRES

LICENSING AND CONTROL.

Regulations relating to the issue of licenses for picture theatres and to the control of the exhibition of films are published in the Gazette. If in any locality there are one or more theatres where public exhibit tions of films are given by 'an exhibitor or exhibitors licensed under the Cinematograph Finis Act, 1928, and an application is received by the licensing officer for a license for an additional theatre, or for an increase in the number of seats in any existing licensed theatre, which increase involves a structural alteration to the building, or an increase in the number of nights per week on which exhibitions of film are licensed to take place, the licensing officer may refuse to issue such license where he is satisfied: —

(a) That the existing theatre or theatres provide adequately for the requirements of the locality having regard to the entertainment value and date of release of the films exhibited, the seating accommodation and general amenities provided, the number of nights per week on which exhibitions are given, the prices charged for admission, and any other relevant considerations affecting the public interest.

(b) That in view of the conditions existing in the industry or the limited number of films of reasonable exhibition value obtainable in the market, the granting of further licenses in the locality or the licensing of additional seating accommodation or of exhibition on additional nights would cause undue hardship to such existing licensed exhibitor or exhibitors or would result in unreasonable economic waste.

If any application is received by the licensing officer for a license for tin existing licensed theatre from tiny person other than the existing holder or. in the case of an expired license, the previous holder, he may refuse to issue such license, where he is satisfied that the issue would involve an unreasonable hardship on the existing or previous holder or where in his opinion the issue is*‘not in the public interest, having regard to the condlions existing in the industrv.

In the event of failure by any licensed exhibitor to carry out exhibitions in accordance with the terms of his license the licensing officer may. on the expiration of the existing license, refuse to issue a further license, or may issue a further license in accordance with the normal practice of the exhibitor during the six months preceding the application for such license. Where the licensing officer is satisfied that in any licensed theatre the condition existing do not provide adequately for the requirements of the locality with regard to pulllie entertainment, he may require the licensed exhibitor to improve the conditions to any standard deemed necessary by him, and in default of compliance with such requisition he may on expiration of the existing license refuse to issue a further license in respect of that theatre.