CINEMA PICTURES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 16 May 1925, Page 5

CINEMA PICTURES

FEW OF BRITISH MAKE.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF LORDS. / 1 (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 16, 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Alay 15. In tho House of Lords, Lord Burnham suggested that; publio attention throughout the Empire should be drawn to tho scandal of the exclusion of British films from the majority of cinemas in the Empire. Lord Peel, replying, said that 25 per cent, of the films exhibited in Britain in 1914 were British, whereas in 1923 only 10 per cent, were British. They had dwindled to three per cent, in 1925. About 20 firms were engaged it. the film industry in Britain in 1923, and this number had been reduced to five at present. The producers had met with tremendous competition from the United States. It was difficult to see how anything short of the prohibition of American films could give an opportunity to the British film industry, but he felt that the publio was not inclined at present to support ctrong action against the American competition.—A. and N.Z. cable.