FILMS BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1927, Page 4

FILMS BILL

AY ILL NOT BE PASSED THIS YEAR.

WELLINGTON. Xov. 26. Following is the statement made in the House of Representatives to-night by the Prime Minister when introducing the Cinematograph Films Bill which, he stated, generally followed the linos of tlio- Bill now under consideration by the Parliament of Great Britain.

He explained that the Bill provided for the following matters: —

Section .T provides for the prohibition of agreements to exhibit a film more than twelve months alter the date of the agreement. Sectoin f> provides that an exhibitor is to have the right to reject 6 per cent of the films booked by him before they have been exhibited in New Zealand. This clause is ill substitution for the British provision that no agreement to rent a film shall la> valid until the film is actually in the country. This provision is not considered feasible in Xew Zealand.

The registration of films is provided for in Seetionf), of renters in Section 16. and of exhibitors in Section

22. The registration of films is: (1) New Zealand films; (2) British films; (3) foreign films.

The quota of British or New Zealand films to be acquired by the renters commenting on January 1. 1629, at 71 per cent, and rising yearly to 21) per cent in 1926, and remaining at the same percentage for the four succeeding years, is provided for in clause 16. Then follows an exhibitors’ quota, commencing on July 1, 1929. at 5 per cent, and rising yearly to 20 per cent in 1937, and remaining at the same percentage for the four succeeding years. This is provided for in clause 23. This quota applies only to feature films, but other specified films may be included with the permission ol the .Minister.

Tho provisions ol the Bill are kept nine mouths behind the proposed provisions of the British Bill in order to allow time for the arrival of films in New Zealand.

A new provision, not contained in the British Bill, is inserted, providing for a tax on the gross returns Irom the renting ot films as lollows:—New Zealand films 5 per cent. British films 71 per cc'iit, foreign films 121 per cent. This tax will take effect in the year 1929. and the total amount of the lax. combined with the existing Customs' tariff, will be loss than tho amount that would have been obtained under the 3d tariff.

Tho Bill has been introduced this year in order to allow time lor its consideration by all concerned. It will not be passed this year.

Will AT IS A BRITISH FI LAI ?

SOAI E STRICT PROVISIONS. AY ELLINGTON', Xov. 26,

Since the Cinematograph Films Bill differentiates materially between Xew Zealand. British and foreign films with regard to the proport ion ot films that may lie exhibited annually, and also in so far as the tax on film rentals is eoneerned, it is interesting to note that the Hill defines in precise terms just what a British films is. A British films means a film which complies with the following requirements:— It must have been made by a person who was a .British subject or by two or more persons, each of whom was a. British subject, or by a British company. The studio scenes inusi have been photographed in a studio in the British Empire elsewhere than in Xew Zealand. Ihe author of the scenario and the producer must have been British subjects at the time the film was made. Not less than 76 per cent of the salaries, wages and payments specifically paid for labour and services in making of the film (exclusive of payments in respect of copyright and of salary or payments to one foreign actor or actress. but inclusive of payments to the author of Hie scenario) must have been paid to British subjects or to persons domiciled in the British Empire.

A foreign film means every film which is nut a Xew Zealand film or a British film.

The Hrime Minister, who has charge of the Bill, explained that it had been compiled after consultation with the parties interested in the trade. There were, of course, some widely divergent, interests, since the exhibitors, renters and wholesalers all 1001-ed at- the matter from their respective angles. Each of these interests had made suggestions and the Bill then had been framed.