FILM CONTRACT DISPUTE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 November 1933, Page 2

FILM CONTRACT DISPUTE

THEATRE PROPRIETOR SUED

<Oy Telegraph—Presa Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Ri.K.O. Radio Pictures (Australasia) Ltd., film distributor, claimed in the Magistrate’s Court to-day £76 7is /« from Q. E. Gray, Auckland, formerly proprietor of the Manurewa picture, theatre, as a result of alleged breacn of contract. The claim stated that under an agreement of September 30, 1932, Gray undertook ,to hire and exhibit 40 films. He exhibited only five and disposed of his interests in the theatre, refusing, it is alleged, to carry out the remainder of the contract. The amount of rental due for the films was £65, plus 50 per cent, of the gross proceeds, over £ls for each exhibition. A further £ll 7s 7d was due in respect to films previously supplied. It was stated for the plaintiffs that the new proprietor of the theatre made arrangements for films elsewhere then from Radio Piotriros. Il> wais also stated that the question of quality of the films was never raised till the case was brought to Court. It would be shown that the quality was well up to standard and that the drop in receipts was only in accordance with the general decline which had been evident m tlie film business. Walter A. Kritdh gave evidence for the plaintiff on the lines indicated, by counsel. He denied that he told Gray there would he 70 pictures from which 40 could bo selected. He had said 52 films would he available. Had Gray continued under his contract he would have had 63 films to choose from. Jn concluding the case for the plam--1 tiff counsel said it arose out of the practice among film exhibitors throughout the Dominion of blaming the producers for the decline in the motion picture business. Mr. Goldwater said when the contract was entered into there was a false representation of fact, recklessly although not of necessity deliberately false, if the pictures did not draiw houses the picture proprietors would be ruined. . . The magistrate reserved his decision.