The Bioscope (Jul-Sep 1931)

July 15, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 35 got to do something, and I am prepared to discuss the matter if the General Council think it is the time, or, if not, to have it referred to a committee after further attempts have been made with the K.R.S. If the K.R.S. is prepared to do anything upon the lines suggested, and to administer some sort of treatment, it can be allowed to stand over for a few days, but the matter is urgent, and should be got on with without delay. I look upon every suggestion as important, and that in regard to an administrator of the utmost importance.” The Chairman regretted that it had been impossible to hold a meeting with the K.R.S. prior to the General Council meeting, but said it was hoped to meet them the following week. A scheme was being formulated by the President of the K.R.S. and himself, which he hoped would eventually lead to some sort of satisfactory solution. He could not explain it in detail for obvious reasons, but the principle underlying it was the fixing of a minimum basis of film hire which would suit every hall, and the maximum would be according to the amount the film brought in. It would involve a sliding scale, which would start at a figure that would be economically possible for every hall. In view of the discussion. Major Gale proposed, J. R. Dovener seconded, and it was agreed : — “ That the matter lie adjourned to the next meeting of the General Council.” Next Meeting It was arranged that the next meeting of the General Council should be held on September 9th, and that a meeting could be summoned during August at the discretion of the officers. INSURANCE OF W.E. EQUIPMENT The following report from the Legal, Financial and Parliamentary Committee was adopted : — “ An explanatory letter from the Western Electric Company as to insurance from consequential loss is is attached : — Hear Mr. Gregg, One of my members is writing to me about insuring for consequential loss in the event of fire. Is there any loss to insure against in regard to your apparatus in the event of total destruction by fire ? I presume you stipulate that the hirer shall keep it insured. What would be the position in the two following cases where the apparatus is totally destroyed by fire and the insurance company has settled the claim ? (1) Where the exhibitor has paid all the instalments. (2) Where the exhibitor has paid, say, one-third of the instalments. You. I imagine, would collect from the insurance company as the owner of the apparatus and would you replace, in case (1), a completely new equipment free of charge and, in case (2), a new apparatus with the exhibitor still liable to pay the remaining two-thirds of the instalments ? With thanks in anticipation of the information. (Signed) GENERAL SECRETARY Mr. Gregg’s reply was as follow's : — 1 * Kurt her to our telephone conversation , and replying to your letter of the 12th instant.the quest ions raised therein have disclosed ramifications which have had to be referred further, and until we receive a reply we shall not be able to answer your letter quite fully. “ We do not actually stipulate that the exhibitor shall keep our equipment insured at all. It is, however, held at his sole risk, so that it v'ould be only prudent on his part to effect, whatever insurance he feels he needs to cover his particular requirements. We have been advised from time to time by exhibitors that they have insured the equipment against theft. , third party risks, accident and similar risks, and we have also been advised that, a number of exhibitors have insured against loss of profits consequent upon fire. “ However, in the case where a theatre is rebuilt after a fire, it is not necessary for your members to have insured against any loss in regard to our apparat us as regards fire and certain ot her risks , since we undertake, under such circumstances, either to repair or to replace our equipment at. our own expense. “ In regard to the two specific cases you mentioned, and leaving out the question of the Insurance Company having settled the claim, since this risk is borne by us, provided the theatre is rebuilt, the position would be as follows : — (1) “ Where the equipment is totally destroyed by fire and the exhibitor has paid all the instalments, W'e should instal another equipment free of charge in that theatre. (2) “ Where the equipment is tota lly destroyed by fire and the exhibitor has paid say, onethird of the instalments, we should also instal another equipment in that theatre, and the exhibitor would be liable to pay the remaining two-thirds of the instalments. “ In the cases with which we have had to deal so tar, we have endeavoured to meet the exhibitor as far as possible, and have made it a practice entirely to waive the Service Charge, and to postpone the rentals in respect of the equipment over the period that the theatre is closed due to the fire, with a maximum limit of one year. This information is given without prejudice and should not, of course, be considered to constitute a precedent. “ The position as referred to above is, of course, dependent upon the exhibitor having kept to the terms of the agreement, and also provided he continues to operate the theatre after it has been rebuilt. ” The case w'here a theatre is not rebuilt after a fire presents a somewhat more difficult problem to us, and it is on this point that we are obtaining further information with a view to getting an entirely clear picture of the situation. “ Our actual contractual relationship with our exhibitors on this particular subject is governed by Clause 12 of t he standard Agreement and Lease. “ I have endeavoured to put this preliminary answer to your queries in as specific a shape as possible, but I know you will appreciate that there are usually individual circumstances which make it necessary to deal with each case on its merits. ” WHICH AUTHORITY SHALL ISSUE LICENCES ? The following report, of the joint committee on Sunday opening was adopted :■ — “ In regard to the Sunday Performances (Regulation) Bill now' before Standing Committee B., the principal point raised up to the time of writing is the question of what authority shall be the licensing authority. The Bill places this responsibility upon county councils and county boroughs. “ On behalf of your committee, Sir Cooper Rawson moved to include boroughs and urban district councils. The debate revealed that the opinion of the Standing Committee wras favourable to the extension of the number of bodies that should issue Sunday opening licences. Another method of dealing with the question was suggested by enabling the various boroughs and urban district councils, and some members want rural councils included, to send resolutions in favour of Sunday opening to the county councils. The exponent of this idea is Slajor Glyn, and the idea is better than including boroughs and urban district councils, as it is clear the Committee of the House of Commons would insist upon a population qualification of 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants. Such a .qualification would rule out many boroughs and urban district, councils. “ Major Glyn’s amendment is, however, only permissive and does not require the county council to take any action upon receipt, of a resolution from any of the lesser councils within its area. Accordingly, Sir Cooper Raw'son has been asked to move an amendment to provide that upon receipt of such a resolution in favour of Sunday opening, the county council shall issue licences in that. area. “ The Attorney-General has already undertaken to Naturally enough, the Sunday opening question was the major item at the monthly meeting of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Branch at Cardiff on July 3rd. H. Victor Davis, who presided, gave an explanation of the distribution of licensing authority. Answ'ering a question regarding the position of urban areas under the Bill, he said the Attorney-General had made it clear that there was some difficulty in distributing licensing authority to so many bodies, and, consequently, it w'as not possible to give Urban District Councils licensing authority. What could be done was to insert in the Bill a clause to the effect that if an Urban District Council passed a resolution in favour of Sunday entertainment the County Council would have to grant the authority. The County Council could open cinemas in their area or in any part of their area where there was a substantial demand. That W'as bringing local option to their doors. The Chairman’s Film On the motion of the Chairman, a vote of thanks was accorded to J. Lindsay, of Wardour Films, for the valuable service he had rendered to the Branch in connection with the distribution of the talking film of Mr. Davis presenting the case for the nonexclusion of Wales from the Sunday Performances Bill. Frank Taylor, who seconded, said that if there were any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Mr. Lindsay they should be met, to which the Branch agreed. It W'as stated that, the film had nowT been shown throughout the territory, and had been received with great enthusiasm. Report on the Conference A report of the Brighton Conference w'as presented by R. Dooner and supplemented by the Chairman, J. E. Sprague, Frank Taylor and W. Berriman. Referring to the suggestion of single features, the Chairman said he believed they would all be glad to go back to the one good feature, and give their audiences tw'o-and-a-half hours or so entertainment. Frank Taylor : I must say with regard to Brighton there was not sufficient attention to the time-table for the Conference. R. Dooner : We have got to realise that the London and Home Counties Branch did their best under difficult circumstances. It was a very big gathering, and I think wre should thank them for their efforts. A. B. WATTS : One tiling we forgot to mention was that the next one will be an International Conference, and held in London. Mr. Dooner : I think we ought to make a note of one thing. During our visit. Councillor Lyons, of Brighton, made elaborate preparations for the entertainment of delegates at his private residence outside Brighton. I should like to take the opportunity of include boroughs and urban district councils of a certain population as the licensing authorities, and that much has been gained. The subject will be further debated, and probably to our advantage. Various members have been interviewed , and their attitude generally on tills point is most helpful. Your committee would like the members of the Sussex Branch to know and to appreciate the valuable work done by Sir Cooper Raw'son. “ Standing Committee B. is making good progress considering the controversial nature of the Bill, but it wall take considerable time yet. Fortunately, Parliament is not proroguing at. the end of this month but adjourning. The discussions on the Bill will carry over after the summer recess. “ A comforting feature of the debates lias been the insistence by the Attorney-General that the Bill is necessary, otherwise all entertainments, charging for admission on Sundays, will have to close. The Government appears to be creating the Bill not as a Cinema Bill but as one necessary to deal with an emergency to regularise the reasonable entertainments of various kinds which have been enjoyed by the public for so long.” EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL FILMS The following report of the meeting with the Commission on Educational and Cultural Films was received and adopted : — “ The following members attended a meeting of the Commission on Educational and Cultural Films, as instructed by the General Council : R. V. Crow, R. E. Richards, T. Ormiston, C.B.E., W. N. Blake, H. Victor Davis, W. Gavazzi King and the General Secretary. “ It is quite clear that there is a useful body here looking for some way to co-operate with the trade. “ After considerable discussion the committee adopted a very helpful suggestion made by Simon Rowson — who had also been invited to the meeting — that a number of committees should be formed, and that these committees should investigate the particular problems and indicate the lines upon which the trade could usefully co-operate. “ We may expect in due course to hear further from any committees that are appointed, when your representatives will report again to you.” saying how much the South Wales Branch delegate enjoyed it. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Dooner, it w'as decided to express appreciation of the efforts of the London and Home Counties Branch and Councillor Lyons to make the visit an enjoyable one. No Meeting with E.T.U. A letter was received from the district secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, expressing the hope that the Branch could see its way to meet representatives of the Union. A. Attw'ood : Has the General Council not yet decided who to recognise ? A. B. Watts : We do not know' yet who to recognise. There are about five Unions. It w'as decided to reply stating that the Branch did not consider any useful purpose could be served by such a meeting. Influence of the Branch Frank Thomas raised the question of service charges for “ talkie ” installation. Some time ago, he said, there was a big agitation with regard to the service charges of Western Electric. He felt that it w'as not the individual agitation, but the influence of the Branch, that brought about a reduction. He was now of opinion that, the Association should take up the same question with R.C.A. A. B. Watts : Why not have a shot at all the others ? The Chairman : It certainly is our duty to put down, these charges as much as possible. On the motion of Mr. Thomas it w'as decided to place the matter before the Legal and Finance Committee. Evidence of Guarantees J. Ernest Sprague and Frank Taylor reported upon the guarantees question. They said that, their efforts to discuss the subject with certain heads of renting firms while at Brighton proved abortive. There w'as not the slightest opportunity of discussing the matter. Some of the firms w'ere not even represented there. A. B. Watts : The question of guarantees W'as referred to the Joint Standing Committee, w’hich meets next week or the week after. If w'e can have concrete cases where these guarantees have been asked I should like them sent up. Mr. Taylor : We shall be pleased to give you two definite cases. The Chairman : Let. us not, take any cases to th" Joint Standing Committee unless we have the ful1 facts. Mr. Taylor says he has two cases, and the) should be given to the Secretary, who will send them up. “Local Option at Their Door” South Wales Again Discusses Sunday Bill