FILM IMPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1939, Page 5

FILM IMPORTS

MO RESTRICTION EXPECTED.

SUPPLY ALREADY INSUFFICIENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, This Day.

Importers of cinematograph film have applied for exemption from the restrictions imposed by the import licensing regulations and, though their requests have not been granted yet, .they do not expect that the importation of films will be restricted, said Mr R. M. Stewart, secretary of the Film Exchanges Association, in answer to an inquiry as to whether film exchanges expected their business to be affected by the regulations. . IVIr Stewart pointed out that film exchanges did business in a manner entirely different from most importers. They did not receive samples before they ordered goods and did not know the value of a product till after it had been received in New Zealand. The industry expected that it would be allowed to land consignments of films as lhev came forward.

Among the reasons why an attempt should not be made to restrict the importation of films were the facts that the 'Jims could not be produced in New Zealand, that restriction would cause a shortage where already the supply was not sufficient, that there could be no suggestion of importers stocking up, and that the amount oi money that was sent out of the country for films was extremely small compared with the size of the industry in New Zealand —much smaller than most people supposed.