BEARING FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 131, 29 November 1929, Page 12

BEARING FRUIT

MORE BRITISH FILMS

SHOWING

Mr. L. A. Paish, British. Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, since he has been in the Dominion, has been closely examining the standing of the British cinema film in relation to exhibition in New Zealand. He had in mind the satisfactory conference held between the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) and film interests in New Zealand, which had resulted already in a greater proportion of British, films being shown in the Dominion than formerly, but he was much struck, he said, by the progress that had been made in this direction during the past few years. It was rather difficult, he admitted, to estimate the monetary value of the films imported as for Customs purposes an arbitrary figure was assessed. But as from 6.5 per cent, of the "footage" of 1925, the United .kingdom had increased its quota of film exported to New Zealand to 17.1 per cent tor the first nine months of 1929. Duriu" thesame period the United States—Brit° aius greatest competitor—had decreased l.s exports- to New Zealand from 90 5 per v"h u°J 7- 6 per cent' This increase in -British nlms was arrived at after deducting re-imports of films from the Pacific islands, and they give a true reflex of the position.

Mr. Paish also said he had been much impressed by the definite results of the action of the Dominion Government in establishing a quota for British films to be shown in New Zealand,' and also bjthe warmth of public sentiment in their favour. The revolution which has taken place in the film industry owing to the introduction of "talkies" would undoubtedly prove most advantageous to British producers of "talkies" which had now reached a very high standard, and' they will undoubtedly make a strong appeal to the New Zealand public. At present the film position is in a state of transition, but as the situation becomes more settled it would be found, he thought, that British producers will fully demonstrate their ability toplace before the public an article that will be found pre-eminent in its appeal. The British talkies now present a variety of entertainment in action, humour, and spectacle, combined in judicious proportions, and he was sure that they would find a very large market in New Zealand for the high-class British short talkies, which have already met with highly favourable reception wherever they have been exhibited.