“OUTLOOK BRIGHT”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 11

“OUTLOOK BRIGHT”

ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS AUSTRALIAN POSITION “There is every indication that Australia is now on the high road to recovery from the depths of depression,” said Mr. E. L. Rutledge, general manager for New Zealand for the Fox Film Corporation (Australasia), Limited, who returned to Wellington from Sydney by tho Maunganui. “That very necessary feeling of confidence' in the future, ’ he added, “is evident on all sides, while a distinct note of optimism has been introduced by the recently announced reduction in taxation both in tlio Federal sphere and the State of New South Wales. “Statistics taken from every phase of industry and business endeavor prove beyond all doubt that a definite turn in the tide lias set in. The tremendous army of unemployed is gradually but surely being absorbed in industry, and the spending power of the public is swelling accordingly. Turnover is increasing, and plans are now being laid for business expansion of all descriptions. “In the entertainment business,” be

continued, “there is a growing feeling of optimism. Theatre takings are improving, and the outlook for the future is very bright. In the case of our own company, we are naturally delighted to, note the generally improved tone of theatre business, for we are heavily in-, terested in 3 chain of 100 odd theatres throughout Australia. Mr. Rutledge referred to his company’s supply of films for the next months, and stated that it would include 50 programmes from their Holly,wood studios and 50 from their British ones. ! For several weeks past, Mr. Rutledge concluded, in conjunction with his executives in Sydney, he had been negotiating with representatives of theatre circuits in New Zealand. An agreement was finally reached with Amalgamated ! Theatres circuit and their associated ’ houses in Auckland to screen tlio whole jof the Fox, Gaumont-Britisli output ’ throughout their chain of theatres in New Zealand.