More Duty On Foreign Films

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 340, 28 April 1928, Page 25

More Duty On Foreign Films

Australian Inquiry

A summarised report of the Royal Commission on the film industry in Australia, has been received by cable. The report contains 50 recommendations, but of these the Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr. H. E. Pratten said only 19 could be acted upon under the constitution as it at present stands. Mr. Pratten said, however, that the Government would immediately put into operation a substantial propor-

tion of the suggestions made, and would ask for additional constitutional powers to control the industry and to establish a board of three censors for the whole of Australia. One censor would he a woman. There would also be a Board of Appeal for exhibitors. In addition, duties on foreign film would be increased from IJd to 2d a foot. Films would be classified as fit for adults, and for children. The production of Australian pictures would be encouraged. The Government would call a conference of representatives of all the States, for the purpose of arriving at an agreement under which the Constitution could be directly amended to give the Commonwealth the necessary powers to control and regulate the motion picture industry on the lines indicated in the report. [Until more detailed reports are received by mail from Australia it is hardly possible to report on the commission.]