The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

148 CINE TECHNICIAN October 1956 GEORGE ELVIN ILL As a large number of A.C.T.T. members already know, George Elvin is in hospital suffering from chest trouble and he is likely to be away for the next six months. On behalf of all members we extend to him our very best wishes for a speedy recovery. George assures us that he is going along very nicely and asks us to thank all those who have written to him and to say how sorry he is that it is not possible for him to reply to them all personally. A nglo-A merican Film Agreement (continued) extend the present Agreement in an unamended form. " I have been particularly asked to stress the references in the joint statement by all the Film Unions, a copy of which was sent to you at the time we replied to the National Film Finance Corporation. In that document we proposed that the Anglo-American Film Agreement be revised in keeping with other plans for the well-being of the industry and whilst we appreciate that you have not yet received a report from the N.F.F.C. we believe that a start should nevertheless be made at this moment in proposing certain revisions to the Anglo-American Film Agreement. Particularly, we have in mind the Trade Union proposal that American companies be told they can only take out of Great Britain a sum equivalent to what British companies can take out of America and if possible such proposals be extended on a similar line to benefit the showing of United Kingdom films in those Commonwealth and Colonial territories where American domination restricts their exhibition. " Finally, we hope that during the course of the discussions you will also put forward the other point made by the Unions that a British Film Centre should be i tablished in the U.S.A. and support be given to the establishing of an Anglo-American Films Council." Lab Topics LOSS OF FOREIGN MARKETS It is most disturbing to hear of the continued contraction of the Laboratory output in this country due to loss of foreign markets, etc., especially in the colour world. However, as this industry of ours seems to spend its whole life living through one major crisis after another, it is to be hoped that true to form it will successfully weather the present troubles, and in passing I would once again utter the cry: If only the so-called big-shots of the cinema production companies will realise that all the money in the world spent on large screen equipment will never replace the value of good stories intelligently presented to get the public into cinemas we could again enjoy a period of maximum production output throughout our industry. The recently-born television section are getting off on the right foot very early indeed. Already they are more than perturbed at non-union labour handling or makings films for TV and have set the General Council the problem of sorting this matter out with the aid of all sections of our Union. It is, of course, too early for a policy to be laid down as yet, but as the General Council report shows, the Laboratory Section will be giving this matter thought at its next meeting, as indeed will all other sections, with a view to letting the Council know how best it can help the TV Brothers to put this matter right. The Laboratory Committee are still very busy working on the problem of adequate safeguards for members contracting dermatitis whilst at work. It is all too clear that the legal responsibility of any employer is much too short of what is required to maintain the living standards of any person unfortunate enough to contract this disease and, like so much of the protection which workers do enjoy in the many industries of this free country, it will have to be obtained by the strength of the membership behind its negotiating body, I hope round the negotiating table. It is certain that our members will not tolerate the idea in Laboratories that if a person gets Edited by A If Cooper this complaint then he should get to hell out of this industry and become a liability to some other set of employers. If work in this industry knocks a man down then this industry must support him and get him back firmly on his feet again. The health of our General Secretary is a matter that, at this moment, is of far greater importance to all members than new agreements and improved conditions of employment, and when George reads this report I know that in spite of its lack of adequate words he will understand that all his members in the Laboratory section are keenly awaiting the news of his return to good health, not just because of his brilliant leadership on our behalf, but simply that he himself is once again back amongst us. COVER DESIGN COMPETITION A CORRECTION Will all entrants for the competition for the design for a new cover please note that the new name of the CINE TECHNICIAN will be FILM AND TV TECHNICIAN and not SCREEN TECHNICIAN as given in the announcement of the competition in our September issue. We apologise to anv entrants who mav have been Inconvenienced by this error. For those who have not vet decided to compete, the terms of the competition are reproduced on page 155 of this issue. Vim still have until November Hi to get your designs to Head Office.