PICTURE INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 23 (Supplement)

PICTURE INDUSTRY

AUSTRALIAN REPORT. FINDINGS WELL RECEIVED. Sydney, May 3. The appointment by the Commonwealth Government of many Royal Commissions, boards, and advisory councils has been the favourite topic of Australian cartoonists for some time, but the faith in Royal Com missions at least has been to some extent restored by the excellent report of the Commission which inquired into the moving picture industry. Both the distributing firms and the exhibitors praise the findings, and the Government has already promised to give effect to the recommendations, that is to say, the Government will act as far as it can within its powers. Where necessary it will seek the co-operation of the States. The report has been described on all hands as thorough and well balanced. There is an approximate amount of £25,000,000 invested in the picture theatres of the Commonwealth. The actual attendances at picture shows in Australia is estimated to be 110,000,000. In an industry of such magnitude, in a form of entertainment which has taken such a hold upon the public, there is the opportunity for great harm and for great good. Many wild and sensational statements have been made from time to time regarding the control of this great industry, and its harmful effect upon the morals and tastes of the community. The report of the Commission dispels these fears, and on this point alone is welcomed by those who had began to believe that there must be something repeated by men holding responsible positions. For instance, before and after the Commissions had been appointed Senator Guthrie caused a senation by his statements that an American combine controlled the market; in fact it had a stranglehold on the industry and was able to dictate what films should be shown’ at the various theatres, and to exclude British films. The Commission’s report rebuts this charge completely, and states that there was no evidence whatever to support the charge. It stated that there was considerable rivalry among film houses in the distribution of pictures, h has also shown that the allegation about the influence of the cinema in juvenile crime was untrue. THE CENSORSHIP. Censorship of films in Australia, it has been stated, has undoubtedly proved its necessity and its worth. The Commission’s recommendations are all in the direction of securing a more effective instrument of censorship. As so much depends on the individual, it is reasonable to suppose that the joint consideration of three persons will generally be less lable to error than the opinion of one. The proposals for a board of appeal still further safeguards the public and the industry, and has certainly been welcomed wholeheartedly by the industry. There is a certain amount of resentment among some of the distributors at the appointment of a moman to the board of censors. The women of Australia were about to organize to secure this reform, but with the issue of the Commission’s report, and the endorsement of a provision by the Government they will be saved the trouble and expense. The justice of their claim can hardly be denied. Regarding the encouragement proposed for the production of films in Australia, the Melbourne Herald says: “Australia should produce its own films, not only because of the value of the industry, but also because the film has become a great agent of propaganda in facts, morals, tastes, and ideas. We want that propaganda to be Australian. For the last year or two an appreciable advance has been made in local production. While that can be fostered it cannot be forced. Such encouragement as the Film Commission suggests in the way of Government co-operation with producers, monetary awards of merit, and the provision of studio facilities, can help materially without imposing undue restrictions in the provision of popular entertainment, which, after all, is the business of the industry. Realizing the dangers and difficulties of the quota system if it w r ere restricted to Australian produced films, the Commission suggests the reasonable compromise of an Empire quota. As our own industry develops it will no doubt be possible to provide for a separate Australian quota within the Empire quota.” VERY - FAIR REPORT.

Mr W. A. Gibson, general manager of Australian Films, Ltd., is among those who described the report as being “very fair,” He was not so impressed with the decision of the Government to increase by id a foot the duty on films other than British. To the felm exchanges, he said, that meant a great deal, and they would have no other alternative but to pass it on to the exhibitors. Mr. Pratten hopes to raise £40,000 a year by this additional tax, and apparently the object is that the appeal board expenditure, matters connected with the censorship, and the cost of prize awards for Australian films will come out of this extra charge.

One interesting fact brought to light by the Commission was that America received £740,008 from Australia last year in remittances for motion pictures.