FILM PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26559, 6 September 1947, Page 3

FILM PRODUCTION

VALUE OF DECENTRALISATION RELIEF FOR DOLLAR CRISIS P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. The decentralisation of American motion picture production, which would mean the likely production of American films in New Zealand and other dominions, is a logical solution of the dollar problem. This is the opinion of Mr R. J. Kerridge, managing director of the Kerridge-Odeon Corporation, who is at present in Wellington. Mr Kerridge considers thar the existing Empire shortage of dollar credit is no transitory affliction —that any means taken to alleviate it must necessarily be a long-term formula. The decentralisation of American industry generally, he said, would afford mutual relief. By such means would the American companies be enabled to make use of sterling payments for the sale of their products in Empire countries. He thought the British delegation at present in Washington would agree to a scheme along these lines in regard to American films. The proposed increases in the filmhire tax would make the screening. of American films an economic impossibility throughout the Emph'e, said Mr Kerridge. The British film studios, on the other hand, would be quite unable to step up their production rate to meet the Empire demand. Their production facilities were much the same as they were before the war, but in the interim there had been built up a standard of British picture that would be jeopardised by any attempt at a heavily-increased output.