THE FILM INDUSTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 10

THE FILM INDUSTRY.

There are people who gird at the kinema—not only, as they may reasonably do, at the class of programme that is occasionally provided, though not so frequently as in the past, but at the kinema as an institution and at all its works. In so doing, however, they admit, as inevitably they must, the influence of the kinema as an established factor in the life of the present generation. There is something impressive in the manner in which the films, as wte term them, press upon the world ia their onward, march. Criticism has no visible effect upon them. In unending succession they surge along, home as it were upon a strong and steady current, an amazing illustration of what has been accomplished. in a few short years in providing a form of entertainment which reaches to practically every comer of the earth. From the camera obSeura to the portrayal of movement .on the screen is a far cry. It is no exaggeration to speak of the development of the film industry as one of the wonders of the age. A comparison of films produced a few years ago with, those of recent date shows not only that technical progress has been great, but also that it has been continuous. The resources of lighting and photography are ever being exploited to increasing purpose. The departments of kinematography are numerous, and in all of them the search ; after improved methods is maintained. There is significance in the circumstance that The Times has deemed tho occasion now ripe for the production of a special Film Number. In the voluminous columns of this admirable issue the films are discussed in' an amazing variety of aspects, and in a mariner which is calculated to convince the most sceptical that it Is foolish indeed to pretend to believe that there is still no need to take the kinema seriously. ■ Well-written special articles upon such topics as the film in education, historical film records-re-, garded as a heritage to posterity, architecture in kinema theatres, the lesson of the film in surgery, and medicine, pictures of the Empire, scenic design, modem camera problems, the films in Japan and so forth, must exercise upon the open-minded an accumulatively convincing effect. The importance of consideration of the films from the viewpoint of censorship, and from that which is concerned with “ the foreign invasion ” is manifest. The duel between the silent film and the dialogue or sound picture, popularly known as the "talkie,” is. an interesting interlude, which will resolve itself, no doubt, in due course, according to public decree.. It is sincerely to be hoped that before The Times deems the occasion ripe , for the issue of another film supplement the position within the Empire as regards both the demand for and the supply of British films will have greatly changed for the better. It is no doubt correctly held that, as a trade, the films are still highly speculative, and that, as an art, they are still in erratic infancy. This being so, there is no saying what may be in store in their future. That they have become, as The Tunes observes, not only a great industry but a great influence, for good or evil, upon the minds of men, must be readily conceded. If the influence is not turned to good account, so much the worse for mankind.

The rain yesterday held up all work on the three overseas vessels berthed at Port Chalmers, and the coasters Kahika and Gale, occupying berths at the Dunedin wharves. The Rangitiki will probably leave, for Lyttelton to-morrow evening, and the Karamea may sail this evening for the same port. ,-The Huntingdon is not likely to sail before Thursday for Bluff, The Kahika and Gale are expected to clear to-night for northern ports,. are a few country districts which have y e t sent in final returns of Poppy Day sales, and this is making it impossible, in the mantime, to compile the actual figures. However, over £IBSO has come to hand, to .date, apd there* is every indication of the £2OOO mark being reached, if not passed-

The local superintendent for Mercantile Marine has been advised that & of logs and debris from .flooded rivers has been reported to be floating in lath tude 28.11 south, longitude 178.27 east. The obstruction, which is dangerous to navigation, is drifting southwards. A Christchurch boy (says a Press Association telegram) deposited £lO in the Wellington Post Office Savings Bank, andlater lost his book. Imagining that this involved the loss of bis deposit, too, he made no inquiries until well advanced in years, when he wrote to the authorities. He found that his money was still there, but had increased by interest to £6O. The bank officials also that his. handwriting had never changed in 50 years. Although Mr T. Wilson, of Te-Rapa, owner of the racehorse Wiltshire, secured a win with his horse at Hamilton on Saturday, later in the day he had a loss. After the races (says our Auckland correspondent) there was a family meeting at Mr Wilson’s residence, at which Wiltshire’s win was celebrated. While the family was in the main room someone went through the bedrooms and stole l about £9, The thief was apparently under the impression that as a result of Wiltshire’s win there would be a considerable sum of money on the premises, as Wiltshire was an outsider. Interesting relics of a craft that'disappeared with the advent of. electroplating are to be seen in Messrs Stewart Dawson and Co.’s show rooms-in Princes street. They comprise several perfect specimens of old Sheffield plate, fashioned by workmen whose names are still catalogued as makers of nothing but the best quality ware. The exhibit includes a massive wine cooler, and an' egg cup standi replete with six cups. There are also many smaller articles of table silver such as spoons, large and small, and a solid silver toddy ladle. The most astonishing thing about all the articles is the wonderful state of repair which they have retained throughout the scores of years since they. were made. All are marked with the private signs and hall marks of the time, and the larger pieces bear the imprint of firms whose work has been credited and catalogued as the very-best, for two centuries. The wine cooler was made by the firm of Fenton Creswick and Co,, of Sheffield, and is distinguished by the. three crossed arrows brand, while 'the egg cup stand is the work of the firm of W. and 6, Sissons, also of Sheffield, whose bell brand is equally clear. It is not easy to determine the exact date of manufacture of these articles, but ii is certain that they were made before 1838, that being the year when electro-plating came into "use. According to Mr E. J. Hocking, 'of Messrs Stewart Dawson and • Co,, the samples are considerably more than 100 years old. He considers that they were made some time between . 1784 and 1838, and inclines to the opinion that it was nearer the former date than the latter. They are perfect specimens of -the old silversmith’s art. It is quite easy to see how the lamination of the two metals, silver and copper; was carried out: A strip of copper was first beaten out to the required thinness, and the strip of silver, about an eighth of an inch thick, Was then spread over and the two were stamped together, thus making a combination of the two metals. If an inside covering of silver were necessary in any vessel, of, course the copper .would be covered on both sides. All ornamentation was fashioned by hand, out of the solid silver, being soldered, on to the article. The wine cooler on exhibition is heavily enriched with silver fittings, and the egg cups are all gilt on the inside. The silverware is the property of Mr W. D. Main, of Dunedin,- whose father brought it to New . Zealand 60 years ago. Mr Main intends sending it to London to be offered for sale in the world-famous auction rooms of Christie’s, Ltd. The workmen who are employed In cleaning the rocks, etc., from the bed of tie Leith, very often discover coins of the realm,, mostly pennies, One workman, however,, had the pleasure df picking lip a half-crown from the river in toe vicinity of, the -University. The date, lS29,"was clearly discernible,’ and the head of K.~n C George IV was well preserved. How long the 100-years-old half-crown -had lain in toe Leith can be only a matter of -surmise. It was quite black when it was picked up, but after careful cleaning it presents no feature which would attract any particular attention. . ; Work is at a’standstill on toe site’of the new Post Office.' "All the" preliminary excavation work has been completed, and af present, the results of the tests which have been carried out to determine the depth to which toe foundations will have to be sunk are in toe hands of toe Government architect. The type of foundation which is to be adopted and the plana for its construction are at present under consideration in Wellington, but; according to toe statement of an official yesterday the local office of the Public Works Department is no more aware of the date when work will commence than is toe general public. The steamer Golden Cross, which arrived at Auckland on Saturday from Los Angeles, brought 21 parcel receptacles fop Dunedin. The mail is expected to come to hand on Thursday, Six cases of scarlet fever were admitted to and 11 discharged from toe Dunedin,. Fever, and Wakari Hospitals during the week ended at noon yesterday, 27 cases are still remaining in the'institutions. One case of diphtheria also remains in toe Fever Hospital, - Thirteen bankruptcies were notified in the latest issue of toe New Zealand Gazette. Eight of the number were in the North Island. Now in Christchurch in the possession of Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., and Dr J. Guthrie (says our special correspondent) are toe ashes of Professor A. W. Bickerton, toe famous scientist and professor emeritus of Canterbury University College, who died in London on January 22. The urn will probably be placed behind a memorial brass plate at Canterbury University College. . • .The five-seater Pontiac car, the‘property of Mr J. C. White, which was stolen 'from Burlington street on Saturday, night, was found abandoned in an undamaged condition at Allanton at 7.30 yesterday morning. The completion of the Parapara road after 40 years marks (says our Wanganui correspondent) an event of great importance to the commercial life of Wanganui, as it links up Taupo and Waimarino with Wanganui, Raetihi, being now only from two to two hours and a-half motor drive from toe city. For the completion of the road the Highways Board contributed £45,000, the balance of the amount quired being found between the, local bodies interested and the Wanganui County Council. The completion of this all-weather road should mark a hew era of prosperity for both Wanganui and Raetihi. ' - ■

“'ls there not in New Zealand a poet and a composer who* in combination, would give to us a really great national hymn or anthem-of thanksgiving, which would be appropriate for use, and would embody the thoughts v and sentiments of the heart, and would be a means of expressing the feelings which well up in the heart of every loyal New Zealander and crave for vocal expression on occasions like this? “ was the question asked by the Primate (Archbishop Averill) at Thursday's Anzac Day service in the Auckland Town Hall, “In Auckland,” he added, ’ “we have come to regard this day as an opportunity of offering honour to whom honour was due, and of remembering the' sacrifices of those who gave their lives in the war. It is a glorious opportunity of expressing the debt of a nation to the men who went- from us and never returned. It is,, further, aii opportunity of expressing sympathy with the beieavci parents and relatives and - of showing--that we’ realise they took their, part in the sacrifices necessary to achieve vie* tory.” ' ’ , -

Town Hall will be closed on Wed(polling day), aa the main office Will be used as a polling booth. the meeting of the City Council feat evening Cr W. Begg said he had received an account lately from the Electric Light and Power Department setting out certain chargee, including one under the head of “ C.C.” This was the first time he had met it. He hhd asked the Town Hall officials for an explanation, and in reply had received a four-page document. Which, so far; he had not read.—A councillor; You will have plenty of time to read it after Wednesday.—Cr Shaddock Baid the capacity charge, which explained the letters referred to, was no new thing —it was, at any rate, six years old. No doubt it was a most unpopular charge, but it was unquestionably a fair charge. The council was put to some expense in the installation of power consuming devices, and there was always the cost of Tegular meter readings to be defrayed. The capacity 'charge was imposed according to the capacity of the device, and was paid yearly whether power were consumed or not. There were many people with electric ranges who did not use them. He did not know'why. If the capacity charge were done away with the householder who was using the power would have to boar the whole of the cost. He had spoken to the engineer about abolishing the charge, but it had been considered that they could not, just at present, afford to lose the revenue derived from it.

It had been arranged for the tanker Mary Ellen O’Neil to bring bulk motor spirit from, California to Dunedin, and the Harbour Board had planned to carry out dredging operations in a certain part of the Victoria channel for the safe navigation of the ship. Aa the tanker has been substituted by a smaller vessel, the dredging operations will not now be necessary. The Mary Ellen O’Neil is of 11,628 tons gross. She is practically a new ship, having been built in 1928 by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com--pany at Chester, Pa,, for the California Petroleum Steamship Corporation, of Los Angeles. The chairman of the New Zealand Honey Export Control Board has received information from the Minister of Agriculture (Mr G. W, Forbes) that the promise made by his predecessor to assist the beekeeping industry has not been forgotten. “ I have now to advise " (writes Mr Forbes) “ that it has been decided to include an item of £9OOO on the current j-car’s Estimates for a grant for advertising. Payment of the amount can only he made after the appropriations have been passed by Parliament, which will Sot be until the end of the session." The interesting fact that he had selected the burial place of the poet Rupert Brooke was mentioned by Major-general Sir George Richardson in his Anzac Day address to the Grammar School boys in Auckland. He told how, with ti oops assembling at different islands in the Aegean before the Gallipoli landings he Went to the small island of Skyros. It was there that Rupert Brooke died two days before the landing. “I selected his grave on a little knoll under an olive tree, and there he lies peacefully to-day,” said Sir George. The following story is vouched for by the WangaAui Hospital authorities: An eight months’ old, baby was known to have swallowed a button, and on being examined by X-rays at the hospital it was found that a number of pins, needles, safety pins, and buttons, totalling 26. were reposing in the baby's interior. A simple operation followed, and the baby is now well. It was later ascertained that an older child had fed this strange diet to the infant when no one was watching. The chairman of the Maniototo Hospital Board has received a telegram from the Minister of Health to the effect that the architect has been advised that the plans for the Ranfurly Hospital are satisfactory. Tenders have been called for the building, and a special meeting of .theboard is to be held on May 7 to deal with them! The question whether the dogs of the Byrd expedition in quarantine on Quail Island , shall be brought to the mainland for work on the Tasman Glacier is still unsettled. The matter is being very carefully investigated prior to a decision being given by the Government. There appears to be ample legal authority to meet the objections of sheep' owners who fear that animals are dangerous to flocks, and, in any event, if they were released this could only be done nine months after their departure from Canalla, a period ending in July next. Mr A. Innes-Taylor, representing Commander Byrd, is in Wellington for the purpose of negotiating for the release of the sledge teams, but a very modern touch is given to thn discussion by the fact that the Prime Minister, in his Wellington office, is in touch direct with Commander Byrd in the Antarctic through the medium of short-wave radio. Former Antarctic explorers passed out of civilisation’s range, but Commander Byrd, though in the Antarctic, is not inaccessible, and can place his views before the New Zealand Prime Minister, who next week will be able to send by wireless bis official answer to the Polar region. Electors of Dunedin: Read Cr Hayward’s advertisement elsewhere. He has always advocated betterment of conditions for the workers and economy in spending of public money. Cr Hayward will address the Electors in Presbyterian Church Hall, Mornington, Tuesday Evening, at 8 p.m. —Advt. Ladies will be pleased to learn that we have just landed a fresh supply of tlka Cream. This beautiful cream at 2s pot, by post 2s 3d, is , one of the finest for beautifying the complexion.—H. L. Sprosen, Ltd., toilet specialists and chemists. Octagon, Dunedin.—Adyt The Sim’s Deputy—a Radiator from the Barth Electrical Supplies, 90 Rrinces street. A large and varied assortment now on view.—Advt. Those desirous ol having electricity installed in their houses should consult the Stewart Electrical Company, 171 Hattray street. Time payments arranged, from 2s 6d n week.—Advt W. V, Sturmer, G.A.0.C., D. 5.0.1, optician. Consulting room, 2 Octagon! Dunedin. Moat modern scientific equipment for sight testing.—Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagiev dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets' (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359 Advt. Diamond Engagement Rings.—Before purchasing compare our values; large selection; superior quality.—Peter Dick, the most reliable jewellers, • watchmakers, and opticians. 490 Moray place, Dunedin Advt.