FILM TAX TROUBLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1078, 16 September 1930, Page 8

FILM TAX TROUBLE

“LOCK-OUT,” NOT “BOYCOTT”

SIR V. WILSON’S OPINION Press Association WELLINGTON. Today. “There has been a sreat deal of chatter about a boycorr. 1 take the strongest objection to the term being applied to this incident. The film companies are anxious to trade and to continue trading in New Zealand, but the Government has decided on legislation which prevents such trading. Surely it cannot be reasoned that this is other than a lock-out. brought about by the Government, and that the responsibility for the damage done to the film trade of the Dominion must rest on the Government.” This statement was made by Sir Victor Wilson, president of the Film Distributors’ Association, in an interview. Sir Victor said he had received a reply from the Acting-Prime Minister to his representations that the new film-tax imposed a tremendous financial handicap on business. The Government had now informed bin l that it would consider the question of a further investigation of the tax after it had been in operation for a reasonable time, say, till the end of the financial year. , Reminded of the film exhibitors support of the request that there should be an investigation of the incidence of the film-tax, Sir Victor said: “The distributors desire it and will give the fullest facts and figures. We offered, if the Government submitted a questionnaire with the very fullest details demanded, that everything possible should be done to supply the necessary information. “In my position, acting as I am f° r the industry,” concluded Sir Victor. “1 have always attempted to hold the scales evenly, and while : am direct!.* connected with the distributors I still have a duty toward the exhibitor, w the case on which I am now engaged, it is very clear that in toe world organisation the figures for New Zealand represent less than > per cent, of production costs, when as the present position in New Ze \ laud affects the exhibitcr nearly per cent. That is to say, if he ea& not get proper programmes J™ theatre ceases to have any earning capacity. . “I am very anxious indeed to o everything possible by figures an facts to demonstrate clearly to tn ! Government that the present tax unworkable and cannot but disaster in its trail. I am still toping that some satisfactory solutw , to the difficulty may oe dtscovere