FILM INDUSTRY CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1934, Page 7

FILM INDUSTRY CONTROL

. PROVISIONS OF NEW BILL

HMKK TO PREVENT MONOPOLIES.

REJECTION RIGHT FOR EXHIBITOR.

CENSORSHIP UPON ADVERTISING.

(By .Wire— Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night.

The fixing of the minimum price of admission to picture theatres, power to prevent the formation of monopolies in the film busines, the giving of the right to the exhibitor- to reject 25 per cent, of the films given him under his contract, power to stop block bookings, censorship of motion picture advertising matter, and authority for the formula; tion of a standard form of film-renting contracts are the principal features of the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-day by the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Internal Affairs. It is the intention of the Minister to have the measure passed this session and the Bill has been referred to the Industries and Commerce Committe of" the House for the hearing of evidence. The Bill provides that the approval ol the censor may be; (a) Absolute; (b) absolute with a recommendation to the effect that a film is unsuitable for exhibition to children; (c) absolute with a recommendation to the effect that a film is suitable for exhibition to adult audiences only; (d) subject to a condition that a film may be exhibited only by or on behalf of an approved film society; or (e) subject to the condition that a film may be exhibited only to a specified class or to specified classes of persons. Power is given to make regulations requiring or restricting publication in posters and other advertising matter of particulars of the certificate given by the censor. Regulations may require that particular? of the censor’s certificate shall be included in all posters and other advertising matter. PARTICULARS REQUESTED. Before any renter of films can enter into a contract with an exhibitor in any film renting season he must give the Minister a statement giving particulars of the number of British quota and foreign quota films, he proposes to release during the season and a general description of these quota films. Every exhibitor, notwithstanding his contract, is to have the right to reject up to 25 per cent, of the total number of quota films mentioned in the contract, with a proviso that the number of quota films delivered or rejected before January 1 next is to be excluded. The Minister is empowered to include In the standard form of contract a provision to the effect that the exhibitor shall' not be required under his contract with the renter to charge a minimum admission fee greater than sixpence for adults and threepence for children, or such higher minimum fees as the Minister may, either generally or in any particular circumstances, think proper. Any provision in a contract for cancellation of it at the option of a renter on any ground other than the default of an exhibitor in the performance of the terms of the contract is to be absolutely void. The maximum penalty of £lOO is provided for any renter who refuses to rent any released film' on the. usual terms unless, when application is made for a film, it is the subject matter of a filmrenting contract with a competitive exhibitor or has not been rejected by him, or is the subject matter of bona fide negotiations for renting with an exhibitor.

It will also be an offence for an exhibitor to hire any films in excess oi the number reasonably required by him for exhibition in any theatre or theatres in respect of which he is licensed. Power is given for the issue of regulations for the prevention or suppression of any methods of competition, trading or business which are considered to be unfair' or prejudicial to the public welfare. ' In addition to other penalties for breaches of the legislation, exhibitors* and renters’ licenses ’may be cancelled and -the court may direct that the person convicted is not to receive a license for any period up to 12 months.