DEPRESSION PASSING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 78, 11 March 1931, Page 5

DEPRESSION PASSING

FAVOURABLE SIGNS EFFECT OF FREE SPENDING WELLINGTON, March 9. The belief that the world-wide economic depression is beginning to disappear is held by Mr. Wm. J. Clark, general sales manager of Famous Lasky Film Service (Paramount Pictures), which operates in New Zealand, Australia and the Far East. Mr. Clark returned to-day by the Monowai from a visit to the United States of America. "It has been proved in the United States," said Mr. Clark, "that personal economy does not assist in lifting the depression, but it was noticeable in communities where the population spent freely and firms spent additional sums in advertising, that the signs of returning prosperity were more marked. By a system of careful Government economy, such as is being put into force in the Dominion, the United States is steadying herself after the big Wail Street catastrophe." The motion picture industry was one of the first organisations to reflect tlie coming of better times, said Mr. Clark. In that business capital expenditure had been increased, thus giving employment to many thousands more persons. There had been no cutting of production costs in the bigger producing companies, and considerable sums of money had been allocated for the purchase of British stories and actors to supplement the many English stars who had been working in Hollywood since the advent of talking pictures. In this respect the American motion picture interests were spending more money in England and the Continent than before.

Regarding the activities of the Paramount organisation, Mr. Clark stressed the i'act that musical backstage productions had been entirely dropped and music itself was only introduced where the play and action demanded. Story value was the rock on which his company had pinned its faith and the increasing patronage of the audiences had been the result, not only in the States, but in England and the Continent. More Than a Bond Mr. Clark stated that the news of the recent Hawke's Bay earthquake had moved Americans deeply, as there was more than a mere bond of friendship between the two countries, lie stated that American authorities were unanimous in their belief that such a visitation was so rare an occurrence that it would probably not happen again during the next two centuries.