Film Quota Bill To Go to Committee

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 1

Film Quota Bill To Go to Committee

AIRING OF DIFFICULTIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S WORK WELLINGTON, Friday. Stating that he was anxious to get the Bill out, because representatives of the motion 'picture business wanted to examine it, the Prime Minister suggested to-day that the Film Quota Bill, which had just been introduced by Governor’s Message, should be referred to a Special Select Committee. The provisions of the Bill, which was first introduced last session, are already widely known. It provides for the screening of definite proportions of local, British and foreign films, and also for the estaoiisiiment of a special advisory committee or board. Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) asked for an explanation of the Bill. The censorship provisions, he pointed out, might result in all sorts of difficulties. The Prime Minister: The Bill is little different from the Bill brought in last year, but it does differ in one or two points. It deals, of course, in the respective quotas of New Zealand, British and foreign films. Mr. Fraser: The same quotas? Mr. Coates: Yes, the same exactly. He went on to discuss the composition and functions of the proposed advisory committee. Renters and exhibitors would have to be given clear ground for the discussion of their difficulties. There was nothing new, he added, in the censorship provisions. The advisory committee proposed in the Bill will consist of two representatives of the renters, two of the exhibitors, and three independent members, including a Government chairman. The exhibitors’ quota provides for the screening of 5 per cent. British, and Xew Zealand films in 1930, 7J per cent, in 1931-32, 10 per cent, in 1933, 121 per cent in 1934, 15 per cent, in 1935-36, and thereafter 20 per cent, to 1941. Film-hire tax is to be 5 per cent, on gross receipts from the renting of New Zealand films, 71 per cent. British and per cent, foreign. The Government intends to refer the Bill to the Special Select Committee before which those affected may give evidence.