The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

96 THE CINE TECHNICIAN Sept.-October, 1938 Progress— wi QUITE naturally the writers of articles in technical periodicals appertaining to laboratory practice attempt to impress the reader with an overwhelming sense of ultra-efficiency and scientific precision, talking glibly in terms that produce upon the mind of a layman an impression of awe-inspiring technical procedure entailing a correspondingly scicntificially trained staff to maintain such proficiency. It would be wrong to say that this is a completely false impression, hut at the same time who will deny the simplification of Laboratory practice? Compare a high-speed lab. with those that you knew ten, twenty or more years ago. Conditions of working were had, proficiency at any particular subject meant long months of training, output per man was lower, running costs were lower, but wages were higher and promotion a fact. And now the progress! Conditions for some have improved. There are labs which have air-conditioning plants; him emulsion is a delicate flower, otherwise sonic of its gardeners might be denied a human atmosphere. But there are some people who still regard it as a Mexican cactus or gum tree, thriving best in steaming humidity with a wet bulb at 1(X)° F. and innumerable chemical stenches as a means of fertilisation. Today proficiency seems to be expected of a newcomer the (lay he starts (the weeks we spent learning to frame up '"in white light"!) and little if any training is given. No regard is paid to the numerous irregularities and uncertainties that always arise. Output per man has risen enormously, in fact ludicrously — and running costs'.' Consistency is the acme and accomplishment of every lab. But wages? ■ — promotion ? None of the old 'uns will deny the happiness they had from those far-off days with their seemingly crude methods of working; men were men, living souls enjoying the daily round and receiving a just reward from encouraging governors; theirs was a price of skilled artisanship, aiming at the higher position which they knew would one day be theirs. Then came the machine, unwanted and hated — their task now was to tame often ill-conceived ideas, to wrestle and swear, to fight and forbear. Competition reared its head. Prices were cut to gain custom. Better and faster machinery was needed to offset the cheaper prices. Then, with a crash of trumpets, they married the picture to sound. Mechanical developers became essential for competitive work, studio footage for developing was doubled ; studios experienced delay in receiving of l ushes and called for a better service ; night work became imperative. No cost was spared to gain custom ; the latest American machinery was imported; speed, speed, speed became the idol of the lab. The orgy came to a finish and the bubble burst. The gold-bearing vein in the lab's mine, the studios, ran out. Processing became a ticklish business. Methods of cutting down costs while still maintaining standards became essential. Faster machinery was evolved (more often than not with the help of the staff); accurate control of processing was instituted and still more competitive prices quoted Young lads were employed to run the tamed machines and older experienced men retained in key jobs. Alter a long period, that position remains, except that the young lads are wanting to get married but can't afford it. th a Protest How often have you heard the remark "It doesn't pay to be efficient or conscientious"? Haven't you seen youngsters put their whole energy into their work, labour with tremendous enthusiasm, and then find themselves denied even the smallest encouragement? They reckon their labour against the pittance they earn and find that the answer has a sour taste. When proficiency has been acquired they are denied the wages which by right should be theirs. Asked to undertake a higher job, they accept — here is a chance of improvement ! The usual result ? — disillusionment ! The older workers feared modern machinery but they never refused to impart their knowledge in bringing it to perfection. What they feared was not the machine itselt but that, to a large extent, their efforts in making it tool proof, would mean the employment of cheap unskilled labour to their own detriment. Can any employer with reasonable intelligence show surprise if all grades of staff join a union ? — both the poorly paid, discouraged and embittered youths and the better paid experienced men. How would an employer's son who was thus treated, spending his working hours in sweating humidity, respond? But there ! no employer would have the heart to treat a son in such a manner. Laboratory processing has progressed beyond belief. But conditions and wages in most labs have received very little progressive recognition. Perhaps the lab owner, in defence of low wages, will suggest that his costs have risen enormously. No one will argue about that — he has had to face all the whims that have reached this country from Hollywood. But who slashed the prices charged for processing below an economic level? Not the staff — in that slashing, were they and their salaries ever considered? In its draft agreement. A.C.T. has submitted a reasonable scale of wages for laboratory jobs. If the owners say they cannot pay them, why not stop the slashing and put prices back on an economic level? Why sacrifice the craftsmanship of skilled workers in a competitive fight that spells long run ruin to many labs? One-tenth of a penny increase per foot would suffice. Renters couldn't complain — they saved a packet when they introduced north and south of the river release. Besides which, they have always taken the lion's share of the profits obtainable in the film industry. The lab owners have banded themselves together — for unity? Or to defeat the appeals of their employees ? Why not for a price agreement ? It would be salvation for them, for their employees and for craftsmanship. NEMO. SOCIAL INSURANCE The National Federation of Professional Workers is again seeking an interview with the Ministers of Unemployment and Health to press upon them once more the urgency of reforming the present low salary limit for nonmanual workers under the National Health and Unemployment Insurance. In view of the probability of a heavy slum]) and of the consequent threat to social services implied by new "economy" campaigns, the Federation calls on all Unions catering for non-manual workers to urge their members to write to their M.P's. on this matter.