“A NEW FORCE”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18257, 16 August 1921, Page 6

“A NEW FORCE”

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE HELD IN WELLINGTON. THE OFFICIAL REPORT. A conference of the various branches of the motion-picture industry in NewZealand was held at the Chamber of Commerce rooms, Wellington, on Wednesday. August 10th. There was a large muster of delegates from all parts of New Zealand, representing exhibitors, theatre-owners, film exchanges and producing companies. Mr E. J. Righton was elected chairman. The proceedings were characterised by great unanimity and enthusiasm, and resulted in the £Ol mation of the Motion Picture Association of New Zealand as a fighting organisation, comprising all the units of the industry. FREEDOM FOR EXHIBITORS. Discussion took place on various aspects of the motion-picture business, and the first resolution unanimously passed by the meeting was: “That this meeting of representatives of all branches of the motion-picture industry in Now Zealand resolves to oppose the taking of any steps to compel exhibitors to show a minimum or maximum percentage of the film productions of any one country on the ground that such a restriction destroys the freedom of every exhibitor in supplying his public with tiie classes of goods they demand.” The large number of speakers to this motion voiced the experience of showmen that so far the public reception of British films wa.s disastrous, and this view was supported by a great number of letters written by exhimors unable to be present . All speakers expressed themselvGu willing to show British pictures, but the whole industry was shown to be unanimous in resenting any State interfere once with the puulic’s right to choose its amusement far?. Further (it was urged), the scheme meant monopoly, and owing to the slender weekly output of good British films, a percentage condition would prevent all but a privileged few theatres carrying on business. “FULLY TAXED NOW.” The second resolution was passed unahimously: “That this meeting of representatives of all branches of the mo-tion-picture industry in New Zealand, resolved to oppose any imposition of a duty on film, on the grounds that as already the industry is unduly burdened I by the amusement tax, a duty would ‘ involve double impost, and the industry in its present condition is wholly unable to bear further taxation.” The speakers emphasised the dangers of such- a tax, which represented a further burden on an industry already directly taxed by way of amusement and income tax. Further, film cost, it was said, would mean the extinction ol many small exhibitors as the difficulties of passing on the tax to the public were greater than in other industries. Both licensing and tax proposals, it was contended, were palpably in the interests of certain film importers, and represented class taxation levelled at the amusements of the masses. Other aspects of the industry were discussei, and the meeting then elected a provisional xecutive to finalise the details of the new organisation. “This,” it was stated to a “New Zealand Timos” reporter to whom the abefe official report was dictated, “ia the first time in New Zealand when all ’the conflicting interests in the film world have sunk their differences, and nothing can now prevent the formation of a united body representing every branch of interest in the industry. The massed formation of all the picture screens in New Zealand is likely to be a new force in affairs.”