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

August 26, 1922. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 45 NORTHERN BRANCH C.E.A. MEETING. Fighting the Tax—Additional Slides Required— Forward Contracts Relief—General Booth’s Statement. 7g OW to enlist the sympathy and support of the general H public in the campaign for the readjustment of tho Eutertaimments Tax was discussed by the members of the Northern branch of the C.M.A. at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Mr. J. 8. Snell last week at the office of the branch, 71, Westgate Road, Neweastle. An Aggressive Policy Wanted. A letter was read from the General Secretary of the Association pointing out that it was evident, in view of the statement that had been made in the House of Commons, that the abolition of the Entertaimments Tax was in abeyance, and the only method to be adopted was an aggressive one, and to invite the public to be a party to the fight. Members should try to bring home to the public the glaring injustice of the present mode of levying the tax, The Chairman drew attention to the propaganda slides that could be had, and members who wished to have them should leave their names and addresses with the secretary. The slides could be delivered in the course of a day or two. One of the slides was handed round for the inspection of the meinbers, Mr. Dixon Seatt pointed out that if thes waited until nearer the General Blection the thing would be lost sight of among the many other things that would be put forward. The Government would be faced with two Tean years and they would try to average their income for the coming finaneial year. Appeals for the reduction of taxation in every way woulkl be received. The Government would not cut down their staffs because that would make them unpopular, The only way to impress the Government was to make them feel that the working men were against them. The Chairman remarked that the public sympathy must be enlisted, for without it they were dispensing with a valuable Weapon. Additional Slides Required. It was pointed out that on the slide that had been handed round no mention was made as to how the public would benefit if the tax was taken off, and Mr. W. 8.) Shepherd wished to know what they could promise their patrons, and if the exhibitors were prepared to take the tax off the prices of admission ? The Chairman remarked that if a flat rate on the takings was adopted in plice of the present mode of levying the tax, exhibitors could adjust their prices to meet economic conditions, Mr. F. W. Morrison stated that the reason they had not got publi¢ support was dus to the fact that they bad not promised to do anything. To enlist their patrons’ svinpathy they would have to put something on the slide stating that if the people voted to secure a readjustment of the tax the exhibitors would be able to readjust their prices. © They would have to be discreet and keep their slides from party bias, The Chairman suggested that the slide submitted should be considered as an initial step. and. Jater, they could have another to show that the public would benefit through a rebatement of the tax. The suggestion of the chairman was agreed to. Theatres and Super Films. The question of the booking of super films to theatres before they were offered to the kinemas was discussed on the reevipt of a letter from the Birmingham branch, which stated that a Google resolution lad been passed to refrain from booking with renters who did so. The chairman remarked that the _territory had been free from that sort of thing for two or three although it had been done with propaganda — films, Encouragement ought to be sent to the Birmingham members in the stand they were taking. The Chairman remarked that if they cared the music halls coukl show pictitres as they had done in the past, and in the tuture the kindmas might revert to variety artistes. It was Ultimately agreed to support the action of the Birmingham branch. sears, ’ 4 Relief from Forward Contracts. On the question of relief from forward contracts a letter was received from Mr. Gavazzi King instructing the branches to set up committees for the purpose of giving advice to members in regard to cases going to the Joint Standing Committee for discussion with the renters, These local comuittces were for the purpose of eliminating cases where there was no likelihood of succees.. Among the things that had to be produced for the purpose of getting relief were balance sheets, profit and Joss accounts for the past five years, or from the commencement of the undertaking whichever was the shorter period. Tn the course of the discussion Mr. Watson Young complained that the conditions laid down by the renters were too severe, but Mr. FL OW. Morrison said that they would have to have something to go upon, The reason that they never heard of rebates in the territory was due to the fact that they never had sufficient evidence to go upon, Messrs. W. oS. Shepherd, Dixon Scott, and W. Carr were appointed as the local committee. > General Booths’ Statement Denounced. The reeent indistment of the kinemas by General Booth, of the Salvation Army, was raised as the result of a letter from the General Seeretary of the Association, referring to the correspondence that had been carried on with the Salvation Army on the matter. The Branch Secretary having outlined the incident, the chairman said that until the General withdrew his words he did not think it was advirable to give any assistance to the Salvation Army. Captains of the Salvation Army, to whom he had rendered assistance in’ the past, had approached the speaker, and he had politely shown them to the door, Mr. F. W. Morrison remarked that the contributions to the Self Denial Fund were £10,000 down, and if the speaker was asked to give a reason for that it would be that it was not altogether caused through the depression, but because the exhibitors had refused to give to the Salvation Army the usual facilities for collecting from .their patrons, He had found another institution to which he had given’ the support he usually gave fo the Salvation Army. His advice to the members was to do the same until General Booth admitted that he had dene an injustice to the trade. A: resolution supporting the action of the General Council was unanimously approved. Mr. W. Carry viec-chairman, moved that on and after the Ovetober meeting they resume the branch meetings on the Wednesday afternoon. Mr. HE. Chadwick seconded, and after discussion the resolution was put to the meeting, when the voting was even, On the suggestion of a member the question was deferred until the next meeting, when it was hoped that there would be a larger attendance.