MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22195, 23 February 1934, Page 6

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION ORDER OF REFERENCE Following on the announcement made recently by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr R. Masters) regarding the Government's intention to set up a committee to investigate the difficulties that had arisen in the film industry, the Minister stated yesterday that the Government had decided to appoint as a committee the members of the recent Industries and Commerce Committee of the House to conduct the inquiry. The personnel of the committee is as follows: — Messrs A. Harris, P. M'Skimming, P. A. de la Perrelle, A. E. Ansell, C. A. Wilkinson, H. Holland, J. G. Cobbe, and A. D. M'Leod. The order of reference has been made as comprehensive as possible, and will indicate to the committee the more important features of the industry which require special consideration. The order of reference is as follows: 1. Whether the present forms of contract used by the film exchanges arc reasonable and equitable, and as to the desirability or otherwise of the provision of a standard form of contract and the terms and conditions of such contract. 2. Whether any amendments are desirable in regard to the amount or form of taxation to which the industry is at present subject. 3. Whether the present system of "blind" and "block " booking should be continued, and whether provision should be made for statutory rejection rights, either additional to those at present operating under the Kinematograph Films Act, or alternative to such rights, or whether special rejection rights should be provided with respect to " block" booking, and whether differential rejection . rights as between exhibitors should be permitted or prescribed. 4. Whether the hiring of films by any exhibitor in respect of any theatre under his control should be restricted to such number of films as is reasonably necessary for the effective operation of such theatre and whether special provision is desirable for the division of the " service " of individual renters between competitive theatres under equitable conditions. 5. Whether the proposals of the Exhibitors' Association with reference to insurance agaiust loss or damage to films is reasonable as an alternative to the condition insisted on by the renters under the present contract, and, if so, whether provisions should be made for giving effect to such proposals. 6. Whether the clause in the contract requiring a minimum charge of Is for admission to theatres is reasonable or whether a modification is desirable in certain cases in the public interest. 7. Whether any restriction on the erection or licensing of additional theatres or on those already existing is desirable in the interest of the industry or in the public interest to prevent economic waste. 8. Whether any amendments are desirable in the present provisions of the Kinematograph Films Act or regulations. 9. Whether any provision is desirable for setting up a board or committee for internal control of the industry and the settlement of difficulties which may arise as between renter and exhibitor, also the constitution of such board and whether Government representation ie desirable. The sittings of the committee will be commenced early next month. It i« proposed at a later date to send formal notice of time and place of meetings to various interests and persons associated with the industry, but the inquiry will be open to any person to submit information which will be of assistance to the committee in its deliberations. The evidence submitted must be in the form of a written statement, with a statutory declaration a« to ite correctness.