THE PICTURE PETITION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 279, 21 August 1919, Page 6

THE PICTURE PETITION

Sir,—Tf there is one thing more abominable than victimisation it is misrepresentation. The . correspondent who writes under the non-de-plume of "Victim" on the above subject in your columns may have been at some old time in some place somewhere the subject of exploitation, but lie is certainly a pastmaster in the art of misrepresentation. Let me quote him. He state): ''Not long ago wo could visit any picture show for sixpence, now the price is 3s. 7d. for a decent seat." Of course, picture patrons know what a crass, crude, and stupid falsity this is, but other folk are liable to l>s misled if such a grossly erroneous statement is allowed to go unchallenged. /is a matter of fact at a cost of Bd. or Is. (plus the Government tax of Id.) picture patrons can secure the best seats in every picture theatre in the town, with one exception, and this is in face of the fact that picture proprietors liavo had to meet a heavy increase in the cost of film, rises in tlio prico of electricity, heavier wages under arbitration awards, and a general rise in tho price of 'almost everything pertaining to picture production fropi drawing pins to electric lights. The return to the old continuous hours would enable tho picture proprietors to get back to their old sixpenny and shilling rate, and it would also bo the means of providing employment, for a lot of those at present unemployed, for with a continuous service there ,would be the necessary corollary of a double shift at each continuous theatre. However, the newspaper argumentation doesn't out much ice, and if "Victim" wants the position clearly defined I am prepared to do this: I will take him to at least eight picture theatres in the town and pay for his ticket for a good seat at ninepenee a time, provided that if lie is atftsfied he refunds the money for his admission and. publicly retracts tho statement that a decent seat is not obtainable under 2s, 7d. If ho agrees to this you may supply him with my name and address, or if he prefers to retain his anonymity I will give him a list of theatres wliere ho can secure the accommodation I have referred to at the prices named.—l am, etc., CHARLIE CHAPLIN.