Freedom of Trade

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 426, 7 August 1928, Page 1

Freedom of Trade

Sir Victor Wilson Tells What Film Distributors Want

MEETING THE PICTURE INTERESTS

“While the Govenrment can make provision for a quota of British films to be shown, it cannot make the people visit the theatres to see those films.” Sir Victor Wilson, president of the Motion Picture Dsitributors in Australia and New Zealand, who arrived by the Ulimaroa to-day, made the above remark during the course of a chat. . “Have you come to New Zealand to Oppose the ‘Quota Bill’ here?” he was asked. “I have come over to meet the picture interests,” Sir Victor replied. Neither would he say whether he would discuss the Bill with the Government. One gathered from his conversation that Sir Victor did not altogether approve of the quota idea, and he denied some of the statements made recently by Mr. Marks, chairman of the commission which has been taking evidence regarding the films and films business in Australia. Speaking of Australian-made pictures, Sir Victor said that their success depended on their drawing capacity at the box office. There had been some considerable difficulty in getting Australian-made films used in other countries. The average earning power of a film in Australia was £2,750, but to produce that film cost between £ 5,000 and £10,000; therefore, it would have to be shown in countries outside the Commonwealth to get anything like a return for the money expended. This apparently was not possible, as the home-made film was not always a draw in the other countries of the world. It was absolutely impossible to make film to be used solely in Australia. “I believe in the restriction of censorship but in the freedom of trade,” said Sir Victor. ‘‘Censorship is essential both in the interest of the trade and the public.” “Yes,” he agreed, “there is always a danger in censorship, but it is impossible to please everybody.” Sir Victor was of opinion that the present censorship was working quite well. “As a people we believe in unrestricted trade,” commented Sir Victor, "Wa should have it, the same as in any other business. It is laid down, and rightly so, that we ‘trade within the Empire.' The question of tariff is the prerogative of the Government; after, that it is a question of the value of the goods.” Sir Victor is the Chamber of Commerce of the motion picture business in Australia and New Zealand, and all Questions concerning it are placed before him. Commenting on the statement made by Mr. Marks recently that prizes be offered for the best scenarios and motion pictures made in Australia, Sir Victor in turn quoted Mr. W. G. Gibson had told the Film Commission: “We don’t want them, but we will take them.” t~* r Victor will leave for Wellington this evening to meet distributors and managers there.