The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

32 THE BIOSCOPE October 14, 1931 to come into line with t tie Association’s recommendations before they regretted such action. The matter had been so vital and important in reference to that extra tax. especially in regard to the 6d. seat, that the interest of all sections of the trade had been aroused. He noticed that the big circuits were represented at the Tax Committee meeting held on Wednesday and they were deeply interested. As far as he was concerned, he had gone into the question thoroughly and found that, in liis case alone, if he did not pass on the Id. tax on fid. seats to the public he would on normal business results lose considerably. He felt quite convinced that, in spite of the critical times they were passing through at present, the people would have their entertainment and he felt quite certain that if the members passed on the tax to the public — which the public were undoubtedly expecting — they would not lose more than ."> per cent, patronage at the present time. “ To keep that tax yourself and not pass it on to the public is a more serious thing than losing 5 per cent, patronage at the present time,” declared Mr. Morrison. Extreme Folly He was glal the Tax Committee had struck the note in their manifesto to the members that “ if any members are tempted to try to beat, their oppositions _ by paving the tax themselves, a few weeks’ experience will be sufficient to convince them of the extreme folly of such a course.” The public are expecting this tax to be passed on to them,” declared Mr. Morrison, and of this he had proof, as the week in which the Chancellor was making his new taxation, and the night before the Budget was announced, not one or two people, but about twenty, came to the pay-box at his cinema ready to pay the extra tax which they thought operated forthwith and they were prepared to pay it. ” It would be foolish to bear this extra tax ourselves when the public are expecting to pay it,” added Mr. Morrison, and he moved That the Northern Branch confirms the recommendations of the Special Committee of the Association and advises its members to add the increased amount of the tax to the present gross prices of admission.” Stanley Rogers seconded. The opinion was expressed at this stage by J. S. Snell that, the Gaumont-British eircuit was inadequately represented at the monthly meetings of the Branch when such important matters as this were under discussion. He suggested that a little more practical co-operation in the work of the C.E.A. by the representatives of the big circuits would be welcomed. Keep a Clear Vision T. W. Morrison, referring to the circuit prices of admission, said he had heard on reliable authority that they intended passing the extra tax on to the public. He warned all exhibitors to keep a clear vision and bear in mind the fact that the renters would have something to say in the matter if any exhibitor thought of bearing the extra tax himself. Mr. Morrison proceeded to outline several other aspects by which exhibitors would be jeopardising themselves if they even thought about paying the extra tax. These aspects included the renters, also valuation authorities, who would have something to sav as well. In coming to their decision, he urged the members to take a long-sighted view of the position, which must be weighed carefully in view of future events. Following a lengthy discussion, the resolution as moved and seconded was unanimously adopted. It was also unanimously agreed, on the motion of E. R. Eadie, seconded by W. Carr : — That the best thanks and appreciation of the members of the Northern Branch be extended to the President and members of the Entertainments Tax Committee for the very able and successful manner in which they had conducted this Entertainments Tax campaign.” Several members supported the resolution, by voicing their appreciation and thanks. Sunday Performances Bill The Chairman stated that the members would all be aware that an Enabling or Emergency Bill had passed through the House of Commons that week in regard to the question of Sunday opening of cinemas. The Secretary reported that the same position now existed as before the Sunday opening trouble occurred. The Bill which had been passed would enable the local authorities responsible to renew applications for Sunday opening of cinemas in their discretion, which had existed before. One or two applications had been made this week in the South Bank area, and he. the Secretary, had spoken to the Magistrates’ Clerk in that area earlier to-day. It appeared that the magistrates had decided to grant the permission to open, but the operation Of such permission must stand in abeyance until the official intimation was received that the Royal Assent to the Bill had been obtained. The Secretary nroceedcd to read a letter from the North Western Branch, which contained a request for information as to various conditions with regard to any restrictive clauses that may be inserted in licences governing Sunday opening as to hours and type of pictures shown. This information was required by the Southport magistrates. As far as Durham County was concerned, W. Hately. J.P.. stated that the magistrates had allowed the exhibitors to form their own committee for the purpose of censoring films for Sunday performances. This committee had functioned satisfactorily during the past two years, and every exhibitor in the area submitted his Sunday programmes for censoring. With regard to Chester-le-Street, a member stated that all Sunday programmes were submitted to two magistrates for approval. The general hours of opening in the Northern Area on Sundays was from 8 till 10 o’clock. ALTHOUGH there was unanimity about the patron bearing the increased tax, some members objected to a suggestion that the present 8d. balcony price be raised to !)d. instead of 8IdIsy Graham said that there was a principle to which he raised strong objection. The British working man thoroughly understood the position, and knew how much the exhibitor was allowed to charge by way of tax. If the exhibitor charged Id. more, it would be bad business policy. Prices Much Too Low ” Remarking that exhibitors could charge as much as they pleased, provided that the Government got the tax, A. R. Favell (Chairman) said he advocated putting an extra }d. on 8d. balcony seats, additional to the tax. One house in Sheffield for the first time in its existence had paid a small dividend, and there were other houses in the city which paid very little dividend. Shareholders invested their money and got no return, simply because there were some people who would not charge an extra Id or Id. on the admission prices. In Sheffield prices were much too low, and exhibitors of smaller halls were “ scratching, scraping and scheming” in an attempt to make the concerns pay. The man who conducted his business on these lines was not a practical business man, and, after all, the industry was composed of business men and not, philanthropists. Mr. Graham urged that the time was not opportune to extract extra money from the public. It would create resentment in the public mind, and it was better to have houses full on lower prices than empty on big prices. The Chairman replied that, an extra Id. might have the effect of turning the loss on some houses into a profit. Wages, film hire charges and other expenses were very high, and he was certain that the public would not object to the extra halfpenny on the balcony seats. It was better to have even money, rather than odd halfpennies. W. J. Bryan mentioned that, he was passing on the tax, except for the Monday afternoon performances for unemployed men. These were 3d. matinees and he intended to bear the tax himself. Add the Tax Only H. Turner (Kiveton Park) observed that the public regarded extra halfpennies and pennies as important. A remark that some publicans had not increased their prices led to a retort from several mem Should 8d. IT was notified from Head Office that A.B.C. had made application for membership in respect of the Gaiety, Southsea, and Councillor W. E. C. Sperring, in respect of the King’s Theatre, Southsea, hitherto a theatre and music hall. By invitation, Councillor Sperring was present, and the Chairman, in extending to him a welcome, said that they hoped to have the benefit of his advice and experience and his regular attendance would be greatly appreciated. The SECRETARY (A. Daniels) submitted an unusual number of applications for employment from all classes of cinema employees. The Women’s International League asked for per Trade Luncheon The Chairman stated that, in order to mark his year of office, he would like to see an arrangement made for a monthly luncheon to be held, representative of renters and exhibitors. He thought such an arrangement would help to foster a better feeling of goodwill between the two sides. His idea was that the luncheons should be quite informal and open to every member of the trade, each one bearing the cost of the lunch. It was unanimously agreed that a joint luncheon as suggested be arranged to be held during November or December. Halfpenny bers that the gravity of beer had been reduced, but they could not do anything like that with pictures. W. S. Clayton urged that they should put on the tax and nothing more. If the time arrived when they felt that they could not carry on at the prices, then they could make a revision. He urged that, there should be some uniformity in prices in districts where conditions were approximately the same. For instance, they had one house where the balcony was 8d., another where it was Is., and also halls where the top price was 9d. N. Blaskey pointed out that before the increased tax came into operation it was his intention to charge 6d. for the pit, because the seats were not worth more, and to compete with other houses. C. F. Wadsworth contended that 8d. was too low a price for a balcony seat. Mr. Graham said he intended to put the tax on the seats at houses controlled by him, but nothing additional. Other concerns could do what they liked, but he believed that by adding the tax and then putting on something else as well they would make a grave mistake. The Chairman : I don’t think the average persons will care if we put on an extra halfpenny or even a penny. They will have their entertainment just the same. “ Weaken Our Case ” S. Kirkham said that if he charged 81d. and found later that he could get 9d. just as easily, he would reserve to himself the right to make the change, and he was informed by the Chairman that members could charge what they liked, as long as the tax was paid. , In further remarks, Isy Graham stressed that, if the Branch charged above the price of the seats when the tax had been added, they would weaken their case for the abolition of the tax. For years the trade had said that the tax should be removed, and what would happen when the Chancellor of the Exchequer was approached. He would immediately retort, “ You are hypocrites. You not, only put on the tax, but charge something additional as well.” It was agreed to make the present 8d. balcony seats 9d. Too Many Things “ Wrapped Up ” A suggestion from several members that a notice should be inserted in the public Press was defeated, and a member commented that too many things were “ wrapped up ” by the Branch. The public will be notified of the changed prices through slides exhibited at the halls. Become 9d.? mission to place forms appealing for world disarmament in the vestibules of cinemas showing war films between now and Christmas, but the Branch adhered to their usual practice of leaving such matters entirely to the managements of the individual cinemas. It was reported that two halls in the Branch area were not making the music returns required by the P.R.S., and the Chairman commented that they would find themselves in trouble, and then, he supposed, they would come to the Branch. The Secretary stated that lie had written to both on the matter. The Odd Sheffield Exercised on the Question of the “ Eightpennies ” At a special meeting of the Sheffield and District C.E.A. , held last Friday at the Grand Hotel, Sheffield, there was a lengthy debate on the subject of revision of admission charges consequent upon the increased Entertainments Tax. The meeting was particularly well attended, and the outcome was that the Branch (membership of which embraces 100 halls in Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley) decided to pass on the Tax to patrons. This will apply both to matinees and evening performances. —Asks Portsmouth Cheaper Halls Unwilling to Concede the Advantage Some of the Portsmouth exhibitors are confronted with a problem in regard to their 8d. seats. The C.E.A. recommendation is that these should be increased to 9d. to meet the new Entertainments Tax, but the present 9d. seats of opposition halls are not affected. Will the 8d. halls give up any advantage which they may have held in the past and fall into line . This was one of the points on which discussion principally centred when the new Tax proposals came before the Portsmouth Branch, at their monthly meeting at Sonthsea, on October 7th. There was a very full attendance, over which the Chairman, Councillor F. J. Spickernell, presided.