The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Ma iyj6 The Journal of the Associatio)i of Cine-Techjiiciaus 21 Unemployment Insurance for Non-Manual Workers The recommendations of the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee are of considerable importance to cine-technicians, and we are pleased to publish the following statement issued by the National Federation of Professional Workers. For many years the National Federation has pressed in season and out of season for a raising of the Salary Limit in both Unemployment Insurance and Health Insurance. The Federation has pleaded these reforms before successive Ministers of Labour and Ministers of Health respectively, before the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance, and more recently it gave evidence before the Unemployment Insurance Statutory Committee. It has also held remarkably well-supported Conferences of Non-Manual Workers, and all these efforts have been directed towards achieving a new Salary Limit of /500 a year. This figure represented the almost unanimous opinion of the organised non-manual workers represented at those Conferences. It is therefore gratifying to be able to report that a considerable measure of success is now in sight. The U.I.S.C. Report (Majority Report, signed by five out of the seven members) makes the following "Recommendation" : — "We recommend, accordingly, that in Part II of the First Schedule to the Unemplovment Insurance Act, 1935, setting out the employments excepted from Unemployment Insurance, paragraph 9 should be amended bv substituting for the present remuneration hmit of two hundred and fift\ pounds a year, a limit of four hundred pounds a year." It is significant, too, that in the other main lines of its decision, the Committee follow the lines put forward in the National Federation's evidence. Thus they decided against differential contributions and benefits, considering that the practical objections outweigh the theoretical advantages. Also, as in the Federation's evidence, they emphasise tlic anomalous nature of the line of demarcation between manual and non-manual uork, and again a similar parallel exists in the remarks relating to those whose rate of remuneration takes them outside the scope of insurance, although their total earnings may be well beloic that limit. It will be the duty of those in Parliament who are associated with the National Federation to press for the early introduction of the necessary legislation, and to see that there is no whittling down of the Committee's proposals. We trust that the Committee's recommendations will be put into force as speedily as possible, as such legislation will be of coiisiderable benefit to manv members, particularlv those free-lance technicians who ma\' earn well over the present statutory limit at certain short periods but whose annual earnings are totally inadequate to make necessary provisions against periodical unemplo\'ment. Pathe Order 16 British Films There is good news for technicians in W. J. Gell's announcement of his order for 16 British films for his 1936 programme. Their quality promises to be of a high standard and not merely nominal quota requirements. This production "plum" is being shared by Pearl Productions, a new concern, and Grosvenor Films. Many A.C.T. members should benefit. The ■' Koh-i-noor" Grease Pencil No.'401 is obtainable in Red, Blue, Green. Yellow, Black and White, as well as in solid stickform. It writes also on glass, china and metal. Price id. each ; 3-9 per doz. From stationers, &c.. or write to L. 6 C. HARDiT/iaiK (G^ BhilAIN) U^ [COH-INOOR FACTORY CROYDON ENGLAND KOH-I-NOOR ^E^N^tl