£1000 A WEEK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 364, 26 May 1928, Page 25

£IOOO A WEEK

“Burden on Film Co.’s” CAN THEY BEAR IT? "Does Mr. Pratten think that eight companies, which is virtually the number trading in this country, can carry a burden of approximately £I,OOO a week!'* This was the exclamation ot Sir Victor Wilson, president o£ the Motion Picture Distributors’ Association of Australia, in answer to a question arising out of the Australian Royal Commission’s report on the moving picture industry. Sir Victor was asked whether nc i was in agreement with Mr. Pratten’s j assertion that any contention that j the extra duty might be passed on to ; the public was not sustainable, and l that the extra cost, at average screen- j ings, would be only one-tenth o£ a penny a person. ‘‘Mr. Pratten estimates the tax i amount actually at £-14,770,’’ replied j Sir Victor, “and you might take up the same argument that an extra pound or two on sugar cannot be anything, and it cannot be passed on be- j cause it works out only at a fraction of a penny on a pound of jam. - “Somebody has got to pay, and my experience, little though it may be, is that the consuming public pays.” “Nothing About Tax” Sir Victor was then asked if he would comment on a statement by Mr. W. A. Gibson, one of the managing directors of Union Theatres, Ltd., that the report was a very good one. “I am not going to detract from Mr. Gibson’s statement in any shape or form, and wish just to remind you that Mr. Gibson said nothing about the tax. He was speaking about the report in general.” The next question asked of Sir Victor concerned the purpose of prizemoney for productions here. “I remember,” he replied, “that Mr. Gibson was asked by the Chairman of the Royal Commission if he thought a £5,000 prize would be an incentive to productions. Mr. Gibson’s reply was: ‘We don’t want it, but you may rest assured we will take it.’ “We are willing to do anything within reason to assist production in this country,” said Sir Victor. “It is one of the objects of the association, and we will welcome any assistance from the Commonwealth Government.” Sir Victor was asked what assistance was being given to Education Departments by the members of his association. “There have been many exchanges giving assistance, as the Commission states, for some time.” he said, and I am sure that this siCe of the indus--1 try will develop.”