The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Apr-Jun 1922)

April 22, 1922. THE TRADE Fe f° RSS Spa? aan HEAR that there is likely to be a strong contingent of tho I Scottish trade present at the Kinema Club Carnival to be held at the Hotel Cecil towards the end of this month. Quite a number of the leading lights in the trade, with whom I have been talking, have already made up their minds to participa& in this function, and I anticipate’ that there will be a large and happy party in due course journeying south tu keep up Scotland's reputation. Three Weeks. , Right up to the closing night great enthusiasm prevailed over the eereening of ‘'. Way Down East "’ at Glasgow's Coliseum Theatre, and, despite the fact that this film was shown for no less a period than three weeks, there were hundreds of people disappointed at being unable to book seats. Glaswegians, as a matter of fact, went wildly enthusiastic over this film, and the excitement among the audience at every performance was wellnigh indescribable. A Good Trio. Congratulations to the Associated First National on opening their new offices at 75-77, Mitchell Street, Glasgow, and I raise my hat to Mr. Shepherd as the gentleman in charge. Mr. Shepherd has associated with him on the staff Mr. W. Arthur (late of Hepworth) and Mr. F. McLaren (late of Fox)—two of the hest. Sympathy. I would like to take this opportunity of extending my sympathy to Mr. Sam Bendon (of the Bendon Trading Company) THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. IN SCOT ‘(By our Glasgow. Correspondent.) LAND. The Kinema Club Carnival—‘‘ Way Down East ’* Success—Mr. Sam Bendon’s Bereavement— Help for the Benevolent Fund. mS “> on the great loss which he has sustained by the death of his wife. The late Mrs. Bendon was well-known and_ highly esteemed by many of her husband's ‘friends in the Scottish kinema trade, and innumerable messages of sympathy have reached the sorrowing husband from many quarters. Mr. Bendon (of course) is a son of Mr. Prince Bendon, avho is one of tho ‘“* veterans '’ of the Scottish kinema trade. A Helping Hand. A helping hand was given to the Scottish -Kinema Trade Benevolent Fund by a concert held in the Waverley Picture House (Shawlands) recently, as a result of which a goodly sum accrued. Mr. Alexander Howie, the popular manager of the Waverley, secured the services of Miss Bessie Spence (one of Scotland's leading violinists) and Mr. Alexander Macgregor, and from beginning to end the entertainment was a huge success. That Tax! I-have just had the pleasure of reading the letter which has been forwarded to all members of Parliament on behalf of the Entertainment Tax Abolition Joint Committee, and I can certainly say (on behalf of the Scottish kinema trade) that this is a hammer which hits the nail right on the head. As far as I can ascertain most of the Scottish members of Parliament have definitely pledged their support as far as the abolition of the tax is concerned, and Mr. Ritson Bennell (the Chairman of the Scottish Branch of the C.F.A.) and others are to be congratulated on the good results of their recent ‘* lobbying "’ efforts. — ee (Continued from previous page). The Secretary had written to the Ministry of Labour Employment Department stating that he understood that cleancrs in kinemas were exempt altogether from payment of unemployment insurance, and asking to be informed if this was correct, and, if so, did the employers pay any proportion at all? ; ; . To that letter he had received a reply as follows, viz. :. I am to inform you that the Minister recently referred to the High Court for decision the question whether a person employed by a solicitor to clean his office was, or was not, an employed person within the meaning of the Act. The High Court decided that the cleaner in question was not an employed person within the meaning of the Act, being employed in domestic service, and not ina trate or business carried on for the purpose of gain within the meaning of paragraph (6) of Part II. of the first Schedule to the Act. The Judge held that, even if a solicitor were carrying on business, the cleaner employed by him to clean his offices was not employed in hig business. The decision of the High Court is final, and it is not possible, therefore, for the matter to be taken any further. : . es In view of this decision the Minister is of the opinion, as advised, that persons’ employed to clean theatres and music halls are not now uired to be insured, being employed in domestic service, and not in the business of their employers, and being therefore, excepted from liability by virtue of pereurep _ (6) referred to above. No. unemployment insurance’ contributions are, therefore, now payable in respect of them, nor are they entitled to benefit when out of employment. It sould be added that, apart from cleaners and charwomen, Google whose employment is covered in principle by the High Court decision referred to above, the position of theatrical employees is the same for unemployment insurance purposes as it is for health . Insurance purposes, i.e., unemployment insurance contributions are required to be paid-in respect of all persons for whom health insurance contributions are compulsorily payable. ; In the discussion which followed the reading of the letter, it was pointed out that if a person was not working 30 hours ~a_week, but only 294, no contributions were necessary to be paid in respect of such an employee. ‘Mr. Bromilow informed the meeting that for eighteen months he had not been paying insurance, but the inspector under _ the Act had called round and instructed him that he must pay arrears. He asked if he could recover the money se paid. Tho Secretary: Certainly. : Eventually, on the advice of Alderman Trounson, it wae agreed to get Mr. Hart, the solicitor to the Association, to give a legal opinion on the ‘whole matter. Operators’ Wages. With regard to the conditions as to wages, ete., governing the employment of operators in picturedromes, the new terms proposed by the E.T.U. were discussed at considerable length. A number of amendments were suggested, and, in the result, it was decided that copies of the conditions be forwarded to éa¢h member of the Association, along with an intimation that . the matter would be fully discussed again at the next monthly meeting of the branch.