EMPIRE FILMS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 353, 14 October 1932, Page 5

EMPIRE FILMS

CINEMATOGRAPH DOMINATION CANNOT REMAIN IN ALIEN HANDS N.Z. MADE FILMS. NOT GOOD "Apart from strictly monetary and economic qusstions, the conference at Ottawa vns concerned with other factors which affeet the welfare of the Empirse and in which co-operation can be helpful. The part played by the cinematograph "in the everyday life of the people, its importance in conveying the traditions of the Empire, its almost inseparable connection with commercial development, called for the attention of the conference. No part of the Empire can afford to allow this medium to remain in alien hands," stated Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates in the House of Representatives last evening, wnen outlining the effect o" deliberations at the Ottawa Conference. "The resolution of the conference favoured the encouragement of film production not in the United Kingdom alone but, so far as practieahle, in countries of the Dominion Empira also. This is a development in which our Dominion may will share. Tncidentally I may remark that such New Zealand made films as we saw abroad, professing to represent New Zealand views, left very xnuch to be desired. N.Z. Methods Favoured "Satisfaetion was expressed with the results from our New Zealand legislation which is designed to eneourage the exhibition of British films. This was regarded as a possible guide to other Dominions, and, outside of the conference, though arising from its deliberations, I had enquiries from responsible persons who are anxious to apply elsewhere the methods which have proved effective here. "The main conference also had un-. der review the recent development's " of broadeasting. It discussed means . for ensuring that programmes of gen-. eral interest should be accessible to all parts of the Empire; and for assisting the interchange of facilities possible through mechanical recording and reproduetion."