FILM TAXES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 70, 19 September 1930, Page 7

FILM TAXES

"As an old exhibitor, I sincerely hope the Government will not reduce the tax on American films (writes "Tax 'Em" in the course of a letter too long for publication in full). Ever since the war the American Film Exchanges have been a thorn m the side of the exhibitor, and there are certain exchanges which at all times made the exhibitor pay through the nose. Sometimes their demands were so exorbitant that they were closed out of certain towns altogether. I well remember a case where a certain film exchange wanted an exorbitant price per week for their ordinary programme, and much harsher terms for their specials. W« were told we had to take fifty-two programmes as well as these specials, and, when we asked them what we were to do with the ordinary programme when they released a special, they told us just to place it on : our shelves for the week and pay for it as well as the special film hire. The American film exchanges have at all times had the whip hand, and it is time the exhibitor was protected." With the advent of the "talkie" the exhibitor has to pay more for film-hire, apart from the coat of the. "talkie" aparatus, and now the novelty of the "talkie" is .wearing off the exhibitor finds his theatre i» heing run at a loss. "The reason for" the .novelty wearing off is simply because so many of the American films are so much trash, and cannot be considered as entertainment. The Censor should take a stand against the 'talkie' which degrades rather than uplifts. The threat which is being thrown out by the exchanges is unworthy of them, and if the Government backs down it will be a calamity. Eight here I would say the film exchanges cannot afford, to lose New Zealand business. It is too good and too profitable. They might withdraw for a time to s=ave their faces, but they'd be back again before long. Naturally the .exhibitor would pass through a severe ordeal, but their American dictation doesn't sound too good to me. .

"Perhaps your readers have not stopped to think just how depeudent we are becoming on America. Before long I am afraid we will have our theatres owned and run by film exchanges, such as is | happening in Australia. Although^film exchanges cannot dominate New ■ Zealand, perhaps American capital can tie us up, Herein liea a real danger. So, in anticipation of coming events, it is to be hoped that the exhibitors have not been asleep. At various stages far-seeing exhibitor* have endeavoured to form a film exhibitors' exchange. They were unsuccessful, but perhaps now necessity will get them, together. I am perfectly certain Hollywood would just as soon deal direct with, the New Zealand Theatre Proprietors' Film Exchange as with the Australian company if the cash was there. They have done so before. The Government has only to stand firm regarding the tax, and the exhibitors put their heads together and act without delay, and boycotts and threats would melt in thin auv Sir Victor Wilson says, 'It was found that the profit in relation to turnover was less than. 5 per cent. One would just like to know, However,' hpw the film exchanges are charged as to films. Whether the actual cost of a film or by a value i called by the name 'exhibition' value. The public do not know all the facts, and it is as well they should. Many exhibitors have writhed at the film contracts and charges .'in the past. When the film exchanges are asked to pay a, tax on profits then there's a noise. For many years past the film exchanges in New Zealand have.done' excellently well. Their profitshave gone out of this country;" As they are earned here why should this country not have some of the pickings?" ■On the same subject, "A Second Generation New Zealander" writes: "The New Zealand public have been long suffering in regard to super taxation put on all our products by the Americans, and, thank goodness, we are beginning to hit back. It is to be hoped that our Government will .stand firm in its idecision. What matter if we can't get American films."

"Pay-for-Grease" suggests that, for the protection of car-owners, motor-engineers should be licensed as plumbers and electricians are. . At present the owner who knows nothing of the working ' parts of his car is at the mercy of the man who has put up a sign describing himself- as a motor-engineer. The owner does not know his qualifications, and he may only have -worked a few months in a retaair shop greasing and painting.