FILMS BILL.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 14

FILMS BILL.

FIXING OF QUOTAS, i i I i TAXES ON RENTS. j i BILL NOT TO PROCEED THIS j SESSION. I THE TRESS Speci»l Service. | WELLINGTON, November 23. The registration of films, renters, and exhibitors, the fixing of quotas of British and New Zea-land-made feature films, which must be incorporated in theatre programmes, and restrictions on advance and "blind" bookings, are the features of the Cinematograph rilms Bill, read a first time in the House to-night. The Prime Minister said the Bill followed generally the lines of a similar measure now being considered by the Parliament of Great Britain, and was the result of discussions with, the various interests in the industry. It was not intended to proceed with the measure this session, but it had been introduced in order that it could be considered further by all those interested between now and the next session. The Bill divides films into six classes, according as to whether they arc British, New Zealand, or foreign, and by their length, long films being those over three thousand feet, and short films those under that measurement; serial films are not to consist of more than twenty-six parts, of not more than two thousand feet each. To qualify as British a film must have been made by persons who were British subjects, or by a British company, and the author of the scenario and the producer must have been British subjects at the time the film was made. The studio scenes must have been photographed in a studio in the Empire, elsewhere than in New Zealand, moreover, not less than 75 per cent, of the salaries, wages, and payments specifically made to British subjects, or persons domiciled within the Empire. The 75 per cent, is not to include payments in respect of the copyright, and of the salary of one foreign actor or actress, but is to include the payments made to the author of the scenario. A -New Zealand film is also to comply with those requirements, but the photographic work must have been done in the Dominion. All films are to be registered with the Minister for Internal Affairs, and provision is made in the Bill for penalties for non-compliance with this section, and for appeal to a Magistrate if the Minister refuses to accept the registration. Film renters and exhibitors are to be licensed, the former being required to take out the first annual license by January Ist, 1929, and the latter by July Ist, 1929, these dates also being the ones on which they will be compelled to include prescribed quotas of Empire films on their renting and exhibiting lists respectively. The Bill prescribes quotas for approximately the next thirteen years, the -renters being required to give a lead to the exhibitors. In the early stages of the scheme during 1929 the renters are to take at least 7* per cent, of British or New Zealand films, and in the next two years 10 per cent. In 1932 the percentage rises to 12$, next in 1933 to 15 per cent., and in 1934 and 1935 to 17$ per cent. Thereafter until 1940 the quota of Empire films is to be 20 per cent. For the exhibitors the quota for their first year, which will end on June 30th, 1930, will be 5 per cent., and the next two years 7J per cent.; in 1933 the quota is to be 10 per cent., in 1934 12* per cent., in 1935 and 1936 15 per cent., and thereafter until June 30th, 194], 20 per cent., except with the consent of the Minister for Internal Affairs. Topical news, scenic, advertising, educational, industrial, scientific, and natural history films, and films which were released in the country of origin more than two years prior to the date of registration in New Zealand, are not to be taken into account in fixing the quota. Film hire tax is to be collected from the renters of the films. The tax is to be 5 per cent, on the gross receipts from the rent in the case of New Zealand films, 7* per cent, from the renting of British films, and 12i per cent, from the renting of foreign films. The Prime Minister said the tax, which was estimated to produce between £13,000 and £14,000 annually, would lake effect in 1929. The total amount of the tax, combined with existing Customs tariff, would be less than the amount that would have been obtained under the threepenny tariff proposed in the recently revised Customs duties. The Bill, if parsed next session, will come into force on October Ist, 1928, and after that date there will be restrictions on advance bookings, and also relief from "blind" booking. The Bill provides for the prohibition of agreements to exhibit a film at a date more than twelve months after the date of the agreement, under penalty of a fine of £IOO. Then existing agreements will be safeguarded up to December 31st, 1928. Where annual contracts are entered into, the exhibitors are to have the right to reject five per cent, of the films for the renting of which they entered into agreement. The Prime Minister said this clause was in substitution for the British provision that no agreement to rent a film should be valid until the. film was actually in the country. It was not considered that such a provision was feasible in New Zealand. The provisions of the Bill were kept nine months behind the proposed provisions of the British Bill, in order to allow time for the arrival of films in New Zealand.