The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Sep-Oct 1922)

14 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. September 9, 1922. ALDERMAN TROUNSON ON HOME OFFICE REGULATIONS AND THE STANDARD CONTRACT. Important Correspondence on Firemen’s Holidays and Employees Insurance before North Western C.E.A. EVERAL items of interest were discussed at the monthly S meeting of the North-Western branch of the C.B.A., held in Liverpool last week. Mr. J. H. Dovener (chairman) presided, and among those present was Alderman Fi. Trounsen, president of the Association. The Home Office Regulations. With respect to the new Hoine Office regulations, Alderman Trounson said the officials of the Home Office had met them exceedingly well. They might take it that the new Act would be the most comprehensive Act ever framed for the kinema industry. It would supersede all existing local Acts, whatever they might be. The Act was really in two sections, one dealing with new buildings and the other with the older buildings, Replying to (Lr. Perry, Alderman Trounson said it would not be long before the Act came into force. The Alderman further mentioned that the 1.0.C. regulations in respect to adult and universal films would be pretty generally adopted. Last’ month only three sexual pictures were forthcoming, which was an indication that the work of the Board of Censors would be mueh lighter in future. The expressions of opinion by the ladies who recently met at Oxford on the present condition of the kinema trade was the greatest compliment ever paid to it, especially in view of the fact that the ladies were venerally reyarded as the ereatest critics of the films. The whole trend of the Oxford discussion was that the kinema to-day was the best conducted form of entertainment in’ the country. Liverpool and another tewn were specially singled out as providing examples of the way in which kinemas should be run. Standard Contract Rejection. Alderman Trounson also referred to the efforts of the committee appointed by the Council to endeavour to draw up a Standard Contract with cvight clauses, the principal ones being in respect to carriage and the empowering of an agent to sign on behalf of his chief. The K.R.S. would have nothing to do with it, deciding that each firm should make its own contract. As the bulk of the meinbership of the C.E.A. was made up of small houses and individual exhibitors, the fight was going to be on the individual contracts. The Chairman: If we are going to have individual contracts, and have to read the conditions every time, it will be an absurd position. Alderman Trounson said one of the great assets of the C.E.A. was its legal asset in Mr. Hart, who had secured thousands of pounds for their members during the last twelve months. Firemen’s Holidays. The Chairman stated that at his request the secretary had written the following letter to the magistrates’ clerk re firemen's holidays : “* It is customary for our members to grant holidays with pay to their staffs during the slack summer months, but a difficulty Google crops up in connection with the firemen. If fully certified deputies have to be employed it will mean that in the present bad state of trade in inany cases the firemen will not receive any holiday. On what terms would you be willing to grant temporary Licences to other men employed at the kinemas? "’ The Home Office regulations relating to firemen, requiring that during the performance the fire appliances shall be in charge of such person specially nominated for that purpose, were quoted in the letter. Temporary Certificates. The Chief Constable wrote in reply to the above :‘* As you are aware, the justices’ rule in Liverpool governs this question, and firemen have te be approved by the Chief Constable. If the substitutes are persons who, in the opinion of the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade, are suitable for the work, there will Le no objection. raised. To owould sugeest that any men whom it is proposed to employ should he sent to the Central Fire Station, Hatton Garden, for interview.” The Chairman said that meant that if the fireman was to have a holiday they must employ a fully certificated fireman to take his place and pay him accordingly. He understood that the fire superintendent was against the granting of a temporary certificate. Alderman Trounson remarked that under the new Act any person might be nominated as fireman, and they would be able to change about week by weck. Employees’ Insurance. The Secretary reported that the General Secretary had written him as follows : ‘Tn answer to vour letter of July 81, addressed to Mr, Hart, the attendant and cashier working 26 hours a week, the cashier, joint checker, and cleaner working 28 hours a week, do not require to insure cither for health or unemployment, “The position of the doorman is not covered by any previous decision. If he can be called the equivalent to a linkman at a theatre he will not be required to insure either under health or unemployment if pis hours do not exceed 28 per weck. Tf there is any doubt it is best to obtain a list of all the duties he has to perform and the number of hours he is on each particular duty, and I will submit the case to the Ministry of J.abour.”’ The Secretary further reported that the following details were supplied to the Ministry of Health, Liverpool, and certified by them as correct on August 25: Musicians: If paid at the rate of 2s. 8d. per hour are exempted of both health and unemployment. Otherwise they pay both, This rate of 2s. 8d. per hour is the equivalent of £250 per annum based on a 36-hour weck. Money-takers, check-takers, attendants, docrinen, program and chocolate sellers: If employed under 28 hours per week are