Page image
Page image

10

in this particular field. Member States were fully aware of the obstacles to cultural imports. He outlined the situation in New Zealand, where favourable treatment was given to educational materials imported by Universities and non-trading Government Departments. Reference was then made to the high Customs duties placed upon recordings sent by the National Broadcasting Service to the TJnited Kingdom and Norway. " If," said the delegate, " these difficulties exist between old friends, the problem as a whole must be formidable." He suggested that it was useless to obtain further information unless action could be taken. These opinions were strongly supported; but the programme resolution was adopted together with a United Kingdom, proposal that, in future inquiries, special attention should be given to studies (which should be published) on newsprint and low-priced radio receiving-sets. (ii) Visual and A.uditorj Materials The draft agreement for facilitating the international circulation of visual and auditory materials of an educational, scientific, and cultural character was discussed at an informal meeting called by the United States delegation. Representatives of approximately twelve delegations, including New Zealand, stated objections made by their Governments to the convention in its present form. The main objection was that the nature of the materials was too loosely defined, although the United Kingdom also asserted that the imposition of import licences was a greater hindrance than the problem of excessive Customs duties. A small drafting committee prepared several amendments which later were placed before a meeting of the Communications SubCommission. The only amendment of any real importance was an addition to Article IV, which read as follows : " The Governmental agency of the contracting State into which entry is sought shall be entitled to impose regulations upon the importer of those materials to ensure that they shall only be exhibited or used for non-profit-making purposes." It was pointed out that the problem of defining the materials to be covered by the convention was too difficult, and that no agreement along those lines was likely to be reached by member States. The amendment was an attempt to overcome the difficulty by controlling the use of the materials after importation. There was general agreement that the revised draft could be submitted to Governments of member States, and the convention was adopted.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert