FILM BOYCOTT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1930, Page 3

FILM BOYCOTT

TAX TO STAND

FOX COMBINE'S ADVENT

■5. By Telegraph—Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. T Sir Victor Wilson .president oi the fMotion-: Picture Distributors’ Association of Australia and New Zealand, asked the Acting-Prime Minister last Thursday if he might have a week’s grace before the Government was apprised of his finad decision regarding the matter of the boycott of New Zealand by the film distributors. The Government has given no indication of’reducing its taxation on distributorss> profits, in order to ©nd the boycott,jits decision being that the importmust stand. The Government consider that film exhibitors in New Zealand are worse off than Australian ■ exhibitors in the matter of charges for film. If no action, is ;taken before the ©nd of this week, it is believed that' the whole boycott will! collapse. The film distri/b i'-ors a,re reported not to lie agreed among themselves as to the boycott. For one thing Fox Fihnjs have: recently negotiated the purchase of Hoyt’s. Theatres in Australia, at a.iprio of over £2,000,000. Hoyt’s Theatres were controlled by . two groups, one of. whom was J. C. Williamson, l td., and it is now reported that t-onae-.q'uent upon this deal, Fox (uitli whom Metro-Goldwvn .Mayer nr • associated) are likely to take control of the Williamison picture • tin litres in New Zealand. More important still, it iis .stated they have threatened .to withdraw from the .Motion Picture Distributors’ Association unless they are allowed a free band in the New Zealand field. If this ' K (or * rec.t it.means that the boycott, having] failed on, one haml, 'S now menaced upon another. The wider aspects, of the matter aie that iF'ox, if trading, in New Zealand could not refuse to supply theatres .other, than their, own as this would, render them liable to be dealt with by the Board of Trade.