A QUOTA PLAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 10

A QUOTA PLAN

AUSTRALIAN FILMS c INDUSTRY DISTURBED (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 21. Probably no business in Australia is more complicated than that’ which has to do with the distribution and exhibition of motion pictures. The rivalry between the different interests, and the manner in which one section is intertwined with the other, was indicated in the evidence given at the recent inquiry held at the instance of the New South Wales Government. The commissioner (Mr F. W. Marks) commented upon the fact, but he did not recommend any special legislation to deal with the business. He was, however, in favour of a quota system in order to encourage film production in Australia, and the idea was enthusiastically taken up by interested parties. An appeal was made to the Government to act, and the Government agreed to do so. The Victorian Government likewise showed interest in the proposal, and it is safe to say that any legislation introduced in either State will be identical. A conference between the Chief Secretaries of New South Wales - and Victoria has already been held, and a Bill has been. drafted and submitted to the industry. At first every section of the film industry agreed with the quota idea, but the same enthusiasm is not manifest now. There are many real dangers about a quota, and the problem is, how to overcome them. If the Governments believe that by one sweep of the pen they are going to create a great Australian industry, they are’ labouring under a delusion, for the thing is not nearly so simple as it may seem. The proposal is to compel the acquisition of a certain quota of Australian films each year, but who it is who will be compelled is left in grave doubt. Short subjects, newsreels and the like arc exempted from the operation of the quota law, and in these circumstances there is no certainty that Australia will, be able to produce the number of films that would be required for quota purposes. It is pointed out that when the quota plan was introduced in Great Britain a large number of inferior films were produced especially to satisfy the law, but having no artistic or other merit. The Minister is to retain the right to say whether any Australian film comes up to a certain standard, but what that standard is to be is not defined and, of course, cannot be defined. One Minister might set a very low standard and then, should there he a change of Government —and such a possibility always exists in Australia—the next Minister might fix a very high level. Then the whole industry would be thrown into confusion,, For these and many other reasons the picture people themselves are very sorry if they showed any undue enthusiasm for the quota plan when it was first proposed. As a matter of fact, the industry has become so alarmed that it is unlikely cither Government will rush into any legislation until the whole matter has been more thoroughly digested. There seems to be no reason why the Australian industry should not be able to wait a little longer for the promised help.