The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

50 T HE C ] \ E TECHNICIAN July-August, 1989 [Courtesy : Strube and rfte Daify Express ON April 1st renters' quota was increased 5% and we looked forward to at least some measure of improvement in British film production. Shortly afterwards there were 12 films on the floors of British studios — more than had been in simultaneous production for over two years. At last A.C.T's. unemployment figures had begun to drop. Then — the Budget. Like a bolt from the blue the Chancellor of the Exchequer decided to raise a further million pounds from the film industry. His method was so clumsy that the full implications of his proposals were not apparent for a day or two. Then it became obvious that those sections of the film industry which could least afford to bear it would be crippled by the tax. The small British producer, the laboratories, the documentary and short producer, bodies such as film societies, the newsreels — and through all these the technicians and other workers — were going to have their very existence jeopardised. THE FJ GEORGE H. HOW IT W7 A.C.T. wasted no time and on April 27th wrote to Sir John Simon urging him to reconsider his proposals. Other sections of the industry made similar approaches. We were all referred to the Chancellor's advisors at the Customs and one by one forwarded memoranda to be subsequently amplified at interviews with the Chairman of the Hoard of Customs. Thorold Dickinson and myself represented the A.C.T. We were accompanied by Mr. George Woodcock of the Trades Union Congress and colleagues from the Electricai Trades Union. We claimed that the increased cost of film due to the new tax would curtail the activities of firms engaged in film production. The volume of production would decline and the already very heavy unemployment amongst technicians and other grades in the industry would be increased. The additional tax would nullify any benefit which might in time result from the Cinematograph Films Act. 1938, as it was bound to retard (1) the production of films over and above the stipulated minimum required by the Act to fulfil the quota ; and (2) the absorption of those technicians and workers who were today unemployed. The position would be further aggravated by displacement of labour in the newsreel. documentary and laboratory sides of the industry where at present there is relatively little unemployment. Unexposed sensitised photographic plates and film, other than X-ray plates and film — (i) Kinematograph film (ii) Other film and plates Exposed kinematograph film — (i) of a width not exceeding one inch; or (ii) containing only a single sound track; or (iii) shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to lie a duplicate of film on which customs duty has been paid at the rate of 6d. per linear foot and not refunded. Other exposed kinematograph film Existing Duties. Full Rates. i-3d. per linear foot of the standard width of i 3-8 inches. 25 per cent. ad valorem. positives id., negatives 3d. per linear foot of the standard width of if ins.; or in the case of sound tracks imported separatelv certain ad valorem duties imposed negatives under the Import Duties Act. 1932. Preferential Rates. 2-gd. per linear foot of the standard width of 1 J inches. Nil. positives 2-3d.. negatives 3 i-3d. per linear foot of the standard width of 1 J inches. Proposed Duties. Full Rates. gd. per square foot Preferential Rates. 6d. per square foot. 5d. per square foot. 2d. per linear foot* 6d. per linear foot* *Increased proportionately where width exceeds ig inches.