THE KINEMATOGRAPH BILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3888, 18 September 1928, Page 29

THE KINEMATOGRAPH BILL.

PROPOSALS OUTLINED. WELLINGTON, September 13. The Kinematograph’ Films Bill was reported to-day from the Select Committee to which it was referred with amendments. The proposal to impose a film hire tax has been abandoned, and Hie Act is not to apply to New Zealand films. Under the censorship provisions a new provision is included giving the censor authority to take into consideration a mechanical reproduction of sound, where such is an integral part of a film. To the class of film to which the British quota provisions do not apply there lias been added “ British films held by the Minister to be of insufficient artistic or •photographic merit to warrant their being taken into account for quota computation, and films not exceeding 3000 feet in length.” The Bill as introduced provided that the proportion of British films to be screened was to be based on the total length of registered quota film acquired by a licensed renter during the periods mentioned in the schedule. The committee has altered the basis to the number of films acquired. The committee proposes further that authority be given to the Minister to modify for any year the quota requirements affecting the renter* provided the Minister is satisfied that the modification will not result in the exhibitors being prevented from, or unduly prejudiced in, complying with the requirements affecting him. In addition to other penalties that the court may impose for an offence against the quota requirements, the committee suggests that the court be given power to cancel or suspend the renter’s license if it is of opinion that an offence was committed with intent to deceive. The same provision is to apply to offences by exhibitors; The basis of computation of the exhibitor’s quota has also been altered to the number instead of the length of fi’.m as originally proposed. It is now proposed that this section shall not come into force until effected by Order-in-Council, although every licensed exhibitor concerned will be required to furnish returns of any registered film.

Under the miscellaneous section a new provision has been included providing that the taxable income derived from the renting of alms in the year ended March 31, 1928, or any year after shall be deemed to be not less than 12} per cent, of the gross receipts derived from the business in that year. The commitree further proposes that the qr.ota provi-sions-should continue until 1938 instead of 1940, as originally planned.