AMERICAN SOUND FILMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21146, 2 October 1930, Page 10

AMERICAN SOUND FILMS.

GOVERNMENT’S FIRM STAND. APPROVED BY WELLINGTON CHAMBER. (Peb United Pbess Association.) - , WELLINGTON, October 1. Following upon the recent controversy between the Government and the representatives.of the. sound film interests in regard to the film hire tax, the importers and Exporters’ Committees of the Wellington Chamber .of Commerce recommended that the chamber congratulate the Acting s Prime Minister (Mr E. A, Ransom) on the firm stand taken in regard to the tax. The report stated that the prompt cessation of bookings of American sound films < preliminary to the completion of negotiations between the Government and the picture interests created an atmosphere among the general public that there was an attempt by a powerful commercial organisation to challenge and undermine the authority of the Parliament of .this British Dominion. “Whether this impression be right or wrong, and quite apart from the influence that sound films may tend to have upon national character, one cannot be unmindful that the film hire tax, after due consideration by the people’s representatives in Parliament, has been approved by Parliament, and that outside interests are taking the stand that this taxation is unacceptable to them. The present stalemate (whether ‘boycott’ or ‘lockout,’ as variously termed) appears to be an effort to indicate that sound films are threatened to be denied to New Zealand. In passing this resolution, the committees wish to place on record their approval of the stand taken in affirmation of the rights of the Legislature.” The report was adopted.