INFLUENCE OF THE FILM

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1926, Page 9

INFLUENCE OF THE FILM

EFFECT UPON THE NATIONS BRITISH EMPIRE NEEDS. STIMULATING PRODUCTION. Sy ” lecraph—Pres. Assn. —Copyright. Received Nov. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 21. The economic sub-committee passed a resolution recognising that it was most important that a larger and increasing proportion of the films exhibited throughout the Empire should be of Empire production. It commended the matter to the consideration of the Governments with a view to taking early and effective action to deal with the serious situation now existing. The report points out that the proportion of Empire films to the total shown in Britain is 5 per cent., in Australia 8 per cent., in New Zealand 10 per eent., and in Canada 1.3 per cent. In foreign pictures the conditions and habits of peoples in British countries are not always represented faithfully and are sometimes misrepresented. The possible measures to alleviate the position suggested are Customs duties, Empire preference legislation preventing blind booking, and the requirement of a minimum quota of Empire productions. The report emphasises that the Government action cannot be effective unless Empire producers show sufficient enterprise, resource and adaptability to market films of real competitive exhibition value. The second essential condition is the development of effective distribution arrangements throughout the Empire, with inter-imperial co-oper-ation wherever possible. It is suggested that a useful purpose would be served if the Governments arranged for an exchange of information regarding the progress of the production of films in their territories. The report embodies the significant observation that Britain is the Empire’s largest film producers’ market; therefore any action which may be taken there" would be of the greatest assistance to the Dominions.