BRITISH FILM TRADE

Shannon News, 14 May 1926, Page 4

BRITISH FILM TRADE

YEAR'S TEST FOR THE INDUSTRY. LEGISLATION IF IT FAILS. An official report of a meeeing between Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, and representatives of the British film industry shows that the policy of the Government is JLo suggest that the trade for a period of one year should make a voluntary effort to get moo British pictures produced and exhibited. Should the test succeed, said Sir Philip, the industry would be put on its feet without interference, but should it fail, the Governument would have to resort to a system of making the exhibition of a certain quota of British films compulsory. There were obvious objections to seeking compulsory powers if the end could be obtained without them Sir Philip said. If the Government some people with inadequate experience and inadequate capital to produce indifferent films ,and might be prejudicing by that action the ablest producers who were the very people 1 that they wanted to assist. Example of Germany.

Already, as he understood it, in Germany there existed a system under which the renter was compelled [to take a quota of German films concurrently with, and as a condition of, importing foreign films. Dealing with block-booking (the system under which an exhibitor, to obtain one specially desired film, has also to book a number of inferior pictures), Sir Philip said all the representations made to him by the industry had gone to show that the system was bad in itself and prejudicial to the proper showing of efficient British films.

If it was considered that this ma't- ' ter could noit be adequately dealt with, by agreement, the Government would introduce legislation (subject (subject to the exigences of Parliamentary time) now and not wait until the voluntary lest had taken place. Mr. T. Ormiston, president of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association and chairman of the joint trade committee which 'has been considering the problem of British films, said to achieve the objects the Government had in view some form of help would be an advantage. fair Philip: When a suggesfton of sibsidy is made—l think I can speak fjr the whole Cabinet, though I have not submitted it to them —the answer is quite definitely "No."