The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

108 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN August, 1953 The General Council Decides . . . Among main decisions taken at August G.C. meeting: GENERAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATION— General Council have been considering methods for strengthening Council. They recommend that all shops be asked to supply head office with list of officers, General Council delegates and deputies. Those attending General Council must come from this list. In exceptional circumstances a deputy not on the list can attend providing he has written authority from the shop steward or Chairman of local unit. LABOUR POLICY STATEMENT— Arising from the publication of the Labour Party Policy document " Challenge to Britain " and from recent decisions at Annual General Meetings, it has been decided to call a meeting at Caxton Hall on Monday. 10th August, to enable this document to be discussed and instructions given to A.C.T. delegate. George Elvin, who will be attending the conference. A.G.M. RESOLUTION 16: Training of Overseas StudentsConsidered by General Council and it agreed that matter should be raised with the Ministry of Commonwealth Relations on understanding that any discussions will not prejudice employment of A.C.T. members; and that Overseas Students trained in this country will be supernumerary to the normal crew and not stay permanently in the country. PRODUCER/DIRECTORS' SECTION— The following resolutions were carried at section's last meeting and is endorsed by General Council: The Eady Plan: "That this Section recommend to the General Council a representation be made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that, when and if he is considering any modification of Entertainment Duty, he shall pay due regard to the possibility of making any tax relief dependent upon the number of British Films exhibited, part of such relief being credited to the Film Production Fund thereby making the total amount distributable directly related to the number of British Films made." C.E.A.'s Survey of British Film Takings: " That this Section recommend to the General Council that A.C.T. associates itself with the views of the B.F.P.A. strongly protesting against the C.E.A.'s survey of British Film Takings." ASSISTANT DIRECTORS' SECTION— The Executive and General Council endorsed recommendation from section that where concession has been made to a Company and only two Assistant Directors are employed on a production, their grade and pay must not be less than one First Assistant Director and one Second Assistant Director. SHORTS AND DOCUMENTARY: Annual General Meeting — decided to ask General Council to institute enquiries into monies available for sponsored TV. film production, this arose out of a resolution drawing attention to the control that American interests have over cinemas in this country and urging that steps be taken to see that such a state of affairs does not recur in the event of commercial TV. Networks being set up in this country. PROPOSED NEW LABORATORY AGREEMENT— Laboratory Committee in the process of finalising proposals for a new agreement. General Council and E.C. recommend that notice of revision be given to F.L.A. and to Technicolor Limited. DEPUTATION TO THE BOARD OF TRADE— The President and Messrs. Cole, Fuller, Wheeler and the General Secretary, met the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade to discuss the Resolutions passed at the last A.G.M. in connection with the Quota Act and Eady Plan, the dubbing of foreign films and foreign producers and directors. The Deputation put A.C.T. 's case and the Parliamentary Secretary promised fully to report its views to the Board of Trade. He informed Deputation that Government did not contemplate legislation to amend the Cinematograph Films Ads in near future. He was. therefore, asked by the Deputation if, pending legislation, the Board of Trade would give sympathetic consideration to points of view expressed on matters which provided scope in the interpretation of legislation. ENTRY OF NEW TECHNICIANS— The Sub-Committee set up at General Council have reported certain recommendations regarding new entries. The recommendations are: That selection committee composed of one VicePresident plus one nominee from following departments, Producer/Directors' Section, Feature, Shorts and Laboratory Branches, be set up. This Committee be charged with preparation of list of applicants who, they think, would make good film technicians. If a position arose where a vacancy could not be filled from our present Employment Bureau, names of applicants as selected be submitted to the employer. The General Council endorsed in principle this report, but wished the Executive to examine more closely the control of new entrants to the business. LONDON TRADES COUNCIL: July— Among main items discussed were: Deputation of the Kensington Trades Council, local residents and Dr. D. Lewis (Treasurer of the L.T.C. ) to L.C.C., impressing on them dangers of T.B. resulting from overcrowding in Borough of Kensington. Council alarmed by publication issued by Ministry of Housi ig and Local Government empowering local authorities to waive Fair Wages Clause in certain contracts. Many delegates from Building Industry saw trade conditions being threatened, and Executive, in receiving our delegate's report, agreed to keep a vigilant eye on Fair Wages Clause concerning film industry. Another question discussed was 1929 Derating Act, the Act introduced by Neville Chamberlain to help industries by giving them relief from rates. Now clear that these reliefs are obviously inequitable, and unfair to the private ratepayer, therefore, the L.T.C. have agreed to campaign locally and nationally on this problem. In discussing London Transport the Secretary of L.T.C. said that newly appointed Committee to investigate London Transport Executive was composed mainly of well-known opponents of nationalalised industry. It was suggested there should be protests at composition of Committee and demands for the right to give oral (or written) evidence from unions and others representing travelling public in London. NEWSREEL AGREEMENT— Revised new Agreement has been ratified and signed and will come into operation as from Monday. 10th August. Adjustment of salaries is retrospective as from 1st January. The N.R.A. also agreed to open discussions with A.C.T. on members of the union who are employed by Newsreel Companies but who are not listed in the present agreement. SERVICE TO MEMBERS— General Council received reports from Organisers on various cases where our members were entitled to certain payments and had not received them. Examples: At Cinecolor, Slough, during Coronation period a shift in an emergency was cancelled and our members were called in to work on a later shift. Difficulties arose regarding payment for the cancelled shift. Matter was satisfactorily settled by the members receiving one day's pay in compensation for cancelled shift. A Scenic Artist employed on the daily rate for two days was unable to receive payment due to the difficulty of getting anyone to accept responsibility. Again Head Office intervened and member received monies due to him. ... As a result of approach to another Company by Head Office, one of our members received a further £40 for services rendered on that Company's production. . . . Parthian Productions: It will be remembered that some two years ago this Company went into liquidation. Claims were registered on behalf of five members who worked there. The matter has been pursued vigilantly and the claims have been settled in full, the amount technicians received being £240. CINE TECHNICIAN is published monthly, price 6d. You can get twelve issues for 8/6d. post free Make sure of your copy by becoming a subscriber: our July issue was sold out! Published by the Proprietors, The Association of Cinematograph and Allied Technicians, 2 Soho Square, London, and Printed by Watford Printers Limited, Watford, Herts.