The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

Aug.-Oci., 1936 The Journal of the Association of Cine-Technicians 63 long and in some cases no financial recompense was made for long hours or Sunday work, even to the lowest paid technician. Conditions on the laboratory side were dealt with, where it appeared that the wages and working conditions were even more chaotic. Dealing with the question of newsreel workers, it was pointed out that one of the chief complaints was the tendency to introduce non-professional labour and the instance of the L.C.C. training firemen as cinematographers was quoted. In connection with the general emplovment problem within the industry, mention was made that the majorit}' of A.C.T. members were not eligible for State Health and Unemployment benefit, and that a fluctuating amount of periodic unemployment brought down the "Real" salary of technicians. A.C.T.'s case for presentation to the Board of Trade Committee enquiring into the future of British films, bearing in mind the approaching expiry of the Quota Act, was discussed. A report of the xAssociation's evidence drawn up immediately after the Conference, is to be read elsewhere. The vital question of foreign technicians, dealt with fully on another page, was the last subject on the Agenda, which Mr. Desmond Dickinson introduced on behalf of the Council. By this time the Conference had been hard at it for si.x hours. It was pleasing to see that most of those present stuck it through to the end, realising that the Annual Conference provides members with their biggest and best opportunity to discuss the gexeral prixciples of A.C.T. If this same interest is continued in the activity of the members throughout the coming year, tiie Association must go forward from strength to strength. Other T^/A^ Our SHOrr, ARE THE 'the Round riouye" JflMIII'IV, f!LM LIBfiAftY FILM D£S?ATCt1 tDITiNG BAYS I