The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jul-Aug 1922)

July 15, 1922. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 4} BIRMINGHAM C.E.A.’s VARIED AGENDA. Entertainment Tax Campaign—Local Joint Standing Committee—-Posters. (By our Birmingham Correspondent.) HE members of the Birmingham Branch of the C.I.A. found a variety of trade topics for discussion at the July meeting, Neferring to the Entertainment Tax position the Vice-President (Mr. i. Hewitson) declared that the Chancellor's refusal to make any concession was a greater shock than they were prepared for. They expected something, if only a 5 per cent. reduction. Sir Robert Horne seemed to think the time was inopportune for any reduction to be made. Therefore, he thought exhibitors would have to wait) another year hefore they secured any relief in that direction. The Abolition Committee, however, were endeavouring to secure a concession on the Report. Stage of the Finances Bill. The Secretary (Mr. G. H. Tyler) rend oa letter from = Captain Barber appealing for vigorous support in the new campaign, The President (Mr. Lewin Samuel) appealed to members. to assist in the campaign by displaying the mew posters, and urged those who had not paid the levy to do so without delay. Mr. H. Clarke (Harborne) asked if the posters did not. raise the question of class distinetion, If they did, they might be resented by some of their patrons. Councillor MeDonald replied that it was the class distinction in the incidence of the tax that thes ought to call attention to. Mr. Samuel pointed out that they were not asking that one class of patron should benefit more than another, The Poster Campaign. Councillor T Wood (Bilston) remarked that when the first poster was displayed a local manufacturer expressed the opinion that it would do dere harm than good because the publie might think proprietors were seeking to escape their fair share of the burden of taxation. He, however, disagreed with that opinion, and had pleasure in moving that the branch should support. the Tax Abolition Committee in every way, including the display of posters at all picture houses in its area. This was seconded by Councillor MeDonald, who urged the members to support loyally any action recommended by the Committee, Supporting, Mr. Wally Roberts suzgested that a chart show ing the incidence of the tax should be designed and publicly. displaved, oes : The resolution was passed and the Seeretary was instructed to forward Mr. Roberts's suggestion to Captain Barber. A Joint Standing Committee. The meeting then discussed the application of the Birmingham Centre of the K.R.S. that the branch should appoint a deputation to meet the renters’ representatives to discuss the advisability of setting up a local Joint Standing Committee. Mr. Hewitson thought it) would) be wise for them to give the proposal atrial. Tf it did not prove beneficial the Committee would die a natural death. He proposed that a deputation should) be appointed, Councillor McDonald seconded, and in doing so described the request of the local K.RVS: as a reasonable and moderate one. When the renters approached thei on a previous occasion, while not opposing their suggestion, he did not support it because at that time there existed a National Joint Standing Google Committee which fulfilled all the necessary functions. The appeal from the K.RUS. being so stone and so recurrent, no harm could result: from: giving the scheme atrial. Fventually Messis, E. Samuel, i. Hewitson, H. Devy and the Secretary were elected to meet the K.RGS. representatives. Artistic Posters. In the report of the last meeting of the General Council, Mr. Hewitson said there was a feeling on that) body that efforts should be made to encourage the use of more artistic posters. Couneillor TL Wood (Bilston) believed) that nothing was) so effective as oa good pictorial poster, These should be available at more reasonable prices than were charged at) present. Other members sugvested that the example of F.LB.O. and Vitagraph’s should be followed by other renters. Those firms gave miniature reproductions of their posters in’ the evnopsis, and that enabled exhibitors to select the best) posters. Councillor MeDonald pointed out that renters often expressed the opinion that they would be in a better position to meet. the requirements of exbibiters if the posters were ordered when the films were booked. In his opinion, however, that would be blind booking, Applications for financial assistanee from the National Life boat Society (Birmingham Braneh). the Birmingham Boy Scouts, and the Dudley YMCA. were refused, and the tnetubers agreed that no charitable collections should be made at kinemas during the next month. Councillor MeDonald took exception fo a letter: whieh had been sent to individual exhibitors by the Lifeboat Scciety imply. ing that the C.ELAL approved of its application. Tt might) be that the General Council supported the national application, but the local requests for assistance should be made to the Secretary and not to individual exhibitars, Insistence on Lighting Rules. Mr. H. Clarke complained that the Fire Brigade frequently recorded in the inspection book at his kinema that with the regulations, officers the lights were not on in) aecordance although it was broad daylight. Mr. Wally Roberts stated that he raised the same point with the Clerk to the Justices because he thought there was no need for artificial light on bright days. He was told, however, that the regulations must be earried out during the whole of the time kinemas were open to the public. , On the grounds of economy it was agreed that the point should be placed before the miigistrates by the members of the Joint Committee. ——————— The new set oof Mermaid) Comedies wich the Ganmont Company is announcing will thoroughly maintain the standard of the previous sets. These comedies have caught on remarkably well throughout the country, the total number of bookings on the last set running inte about 1,650. There will be fifteen of these two-reelers in the new set (No. 3), and they are to be one three weeks commencing released at the rate of February 8 next. every