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

May 20, 1922. THE FILM-RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 16¢ MANCHESTER CEA. MEETING. Mr. Frank Hill's Views on Better Methods Towards Reconciliation. -R. Cc. E. MITCHELL, vice-chairman, presided over the C.E.A. meeting at the Western Import Offices ‘on Friday, May 12, Mr. Stephenson, the chairman, not being present. : The Secretary, Mr. Fred Carlton, presented the minutes cof the previous meetings, and pointed out that membership of the branch now stood at 80, and he did not expect they would have any more secessions in Lancashire. Alderman Trounson’s Address. Alderthan Trounson, president of the C.E.A., who was present, was then asked to take the chair and address the members. At the outset he congratulated the branch on its strength numerically. It was. quite what he expected. As regards the Entertainment Tax he said they were aware that they had a committee working very hard in London, both night and day, and he particularly pointed out that they were not now eecking abolition, but only desired to be treated on an equal busis with the theatres and music halls, where prices were higher than at This would mean a considerable reduction if granted, He hoped kinemias. and he didn’t want members to abandon their efforts. that members would contribute towards the expenses of the campaign, as the levy would not altcgether cover it. He <lrew attention next to the fact that some 300 members of the CELA. had not paid their fees to the P.R.S., but explained that he had negotiated and expected to get for these members a further seven days’ grace. Assistant Secretary Appointed. He announced that a gentleman named Mr. Fuller had been appointed to fill the position of assistant secretary to Mr. King, who was taking a two months’ holiday through ill-health. Mr. Fuller, he remarked, was a very able gentleman who had had some journalistic expericuce, and was about to take his final degrees as a barrister. He would be a means of saving the Association money, as his appoiutment meant they-could dispense with their publicity agent. Following the president's speech there was discussion as regards the attitude members should take in connection with the exhibiting of Arbuckle filins, Lut the matter was left for members to please themselves, sole Mr. Hill’s Letter. A letter from Mr. Frank Hill, secretary of the K.R.S., read, whieh had been forwarded by that gentleman in response to an invitation from the seeretary (Mr. Carlton) to attend an open meeting and give an address on ** Better Methcds Towards The chairman and vice-chairman of the K.R.S. but they had all been unable to come. was as follows : Carlton,—Firstly, as TL intimated in my former comI regret ciremmstances make it) impossible vice-chairman, or mysclf to be present was Conciliation.” had also been invited, The letter Dear Mr. munication to you, for either my chairman, with you at your next meeting. In your letter of the 4th inst. vou suggested that we might take for our subject. ‘t Better Methods Towards Conciliation.”’ L. of course, do not know what you had in your mind, or what yeu expected, in making such a sugzestion, although I think Iocan guess fairly accurately, The subject is one which I venture to sugvest. every individual engaged in the Dida SEy should put to himself in the form: of a question, such as. ‘How can I he ‘Ip to secure better methods towards conciliation? If we can detach ourselves from either one secticn or the other of the Google industry and attempt to survey the trade from that of a deeply interested onlooker, wo find that extreme individualism often plays a much more greater part than circumstances warrant; accordingly, the industry, from a collective point of view, suffers in consequence, One sees from time to time that certain actions of exhibitors and renters are such that they cannot possibly have been governed by any thought as to the effect such actions are likely to have upon the progress of the industry as a whole. This is to be regretted, because the industry, and the various sections of it, can only develop upon proper lines if those engaged in it ever keep in front of them the words of the poet Shakespeare which 1 so often refer to, viz., ‘ To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.’’ Sir James Barrie recently, as you no doubt have observed, remarked in his Reetorial Address to the students of St. Andrew's University that courage was perhaps one of the greatest factors in the human character. In thinking of the kinema industry I am persuaded that this quality is not exercised sufficiently, and, as a result, business methods are accordingly prevented—or shall I say are hindered ? T realise to the full the purport of the statement that is so often made that the industry ‘tis in its infaney '’; but, as in huinan life, infancy is but a transitory period, so should it be in the life of an industry, aud I think you will agree the time is fast coming, if it has not already arrived, when the industry can no longer blame. infancy for its present misdeeds. I pointed out in an article that I wrote in the Finm RENTER some considerable time ago that the time was fast coming when, if those engaged in the industry could not adapt themselves to its needs, they would have to give place to those who'can. I still think this, and it is for that reason that those at present in the industry, who are perhaps controlling its destinies, should arm themselves with courage and be fearless in their denunciation of any practice which might be considered against the moral dignity of the industry and cqually fearless in agitating continucusly for the betterment of methods and conditions for the carrying on of the business. One cannot dwell at too great a length on the fact that there is a large amount of mistrust as between renters and exhibitors, renters and renters, and exhibitors and exhibitors. I would not suggest at this juncture that implicit trust in one another is possible. The position, however, can be helped by keeping in the forefront. of one’s mind in their dealings the dictum of Shakespeare, to which I have previously referred. Although the individual effort in this direction may be small, it has a cumulative effect which at last must make its presence felt. T regret if this communication should savour of a leeture, but I feel so deeply on the question that I should not feel satisfied in sending vou any communication if IT had not touched upon the questicns D have done, which, after all, are the immediate cause, and have resulted, [feel sure. in your suggesting ‘ Better Methods of Conciliation.’ , As to the methods that might be adopted. I can only suggest in a general kind of way one or two. In the first place, in dealing with trade problems, whether they be from the exhibitors’ or renters’ point of view (and this especially applies to those who have an official position in the industry), the following qualities are, L have heard it said, essential: One needs the wisdom of Soluinon, the patience ot Job, and the tact of Gladstone. (Continued on nert page.)