THE FILM SUPPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE FILM SUPPLY

Wo suppose that the film agencies are movea by what is supposed to have ;uken p.ace m Australia before the last election, when it is said that Mr Bruce lost his majority in consequence oi hl»

amusement tux. Mr Forbes was more astute; he made no direct charge uu the people’s amusements, ilc aimed to get at the people who were making the profits. But these people seem to think that they can get the public on their side by refusing to let them sec their films —but cutting off their amusements. We arc satisfied that is a pure bluff, and wo hope the Government will call it. We hope, too, that the Government, will take the opportunity of investigating the actual amount of money which is drawn from the country on this account. It was stated at half a million in a recent Press Association message, but considerably larger sums have been mentioned. There are over 500 picture houses in the country, and the takings of these must be enormous. We do not desire to see the public deprived of these pleasures, nor uo wc wish any ill will to those who have put their money into the picture houses. But we do not admire the altitude of the film agencies. The foreign companies who provide the films should pay some thing more than ordinary income tax. Wc may recall a cablegram which appeared in a recent issue which stated that, “Motion picture producers and distributors of American offices in New York commenting on the cessation oi the sale of American films in New Zealand, admitted that “consternation was felt by American companies,” but they “'would not pull out of the country’’ because of the tax.—Hawke’s Bay Her-