NEW FILM TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20669, 15 September 1930, Page 10

NEW FILM TAXATION.

FUTURE REVIEW POSSIBLE. ATTITUDE * OF GOVERNMENT. [nv TELEGRAPH. —OWV COIIUESrONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The new film tax is the subject of reply from the acting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ransom, received by Sir Victor Wilson, president of the Film Distributors Association, who made representations alleging that a great financial handicap would lie placed upon the film business by the tax. Sir Victor said he had been informed that the Government would consider the question of a further investigation of the tax after it lias been in operation for a reasonable time, say, till the end of the financial year. " There has been a great deal of talk about boycott," added Sir Victor, " and I take the strongest objection to that term being applied to this incident. The, companies arc anxious to trade and to continue trading in New Zealand, but the Government has decide,'l on legislation which prevents such trading.

" Surely it cannot be reasoned that this is other than a lock out, brought about by tho Government, and that the responsibility for the damage done to the trade of the Dominion must rest 011 tho Government."

Referring to the film exhibitors' support of the request that there should bo an investigation of the incidence of the film tax, Sir Victor said the distributors desired it, and would give the fullest facts and figures. He said : "We offered, if tho Government submitted a questionnaire with tho very fullest details demanded, that everything possible would be done to supply the necessary information."