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

September 30, 1922. -THE FILM RENTER & MOVING -PICTURE NEWS. TAX COMMITTEE -REFUSE. TO BE DISBANDED. Sicaiy Speaking by Prominent Members over C. E. Ava Extraordinary Attitude. COMMITTEE DECIDE TO GO ON INDEPENDENTLY, IF NECESSARY, AND REFUSE TO BE DISBANDED AT THE WILL OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL. HE resolution of the General Council of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association at Edinburgh last week, to promote an entirely new committee for the prosecution of the Entertainment Tax agitation, has provoked a storm of protest from members of the original ‘‘Ginger ’’ Committee, and resulted in a hastily convened meeting which took place in Jury’s Theatre last Wednesday afternoon. Captain Barber was in the chair, and some very plain speaking was indulged in by nearly every member present, who ‘bitterly complained of the discourteous manner in which the C.E,A. had, without reference to them, formed ‘a new committee. ~ F. E. Adams’s Trenchant Speech. i Mr. F, E. Adams, in.a trenchant speech, had some very strong remarks to make concerning the C.E.A., and there is no possible shade of doubt that his complaint was cordially endorsed by every member of the committee present. Mr. Adams, in the course of his remarks, reviewing the position of the Tax Committee and how it came into being, bluntly remarked that his company had given £500 to the promotion of this agitation, and if they had thought it was to be left to the C.E.A. they would not have given five hundred pence. The last Association in the world, Mr.. Adams eaid, to carry through a lightning . campaign was the C.E.A. It was necessary for the committee to make a lightning campaign, and if it was left to the Association it would simply have meant that nothing would have been done this year, for with the cumbersome machinery that the C.E.A. had it would have meant reference to the branches, and goodness knows where they would have been. ‘‘ We formed a committee which did all the work," said Mr. Adams, ‘‘ and the C.E.A. did practically nothing.’’ Reviewing the position of how the ‘‘ Ginger ' Committee came into force, Mr. Adams asserted that at the visit to Nottingham, where the C.E.A. were in council, they agreed that their 18 members should join a similar number of the C.E.A. They were not absorbed in any shape or form, and ‘the C.E.A. had no right and no power to dissolve the committee at will as they had done last week. ‘‘A small committee, you will recollect,’’ said he, ‘‘ has worked and worked hard. If you had depended upon the 18 members of the C.E.A. you would have been afraid to have ordered a circular.’’ Abolition the Only Possible Goal. He was astounded on returning to England last week to read of Alderman Trounson advocating a flat rate of 12} per cent. Apparently the C.E.A. had dropped the cry for abolition. They had approached no cne, and a small group with comparatively little interest in the business were now attempting to over-ride the cry for total abolition, which he would never consent to. Abolition was the only thing that was possible in the promotion of this campaign. the C.E.A. had been very discourteous. The General Council at Edinburgh considered that the 86 members had finished their work, and the C.E.A. should be appointed. He agreed that the ‘only course for the successful pursuance of the campaign was Google Mr. Adams’s remarks, strong as they were,” | were endorsed by everyone present, and were followed by a . speech from Mr. Gale, who plainly intimated that he considered _ not to weaken on the cry of total abolition, and he disagreed with Alderman Trounson in advocating a flat rate of 12} per cent. Not Under C.E.A. Egis.. Mr. Sumner Jones, in a forceful speech, remarked that it was most regrettable that the C.E.A. had treated the committee like this. He was aghast at its astounding discourtesy. ‘‘ I have,"’ said he, ‘* yet to learn that tho C.E.A. can do better without our help.’’ Criticising Alderman Trounson’s declaration, the speaker insisted that the president of the C.E.A. could not speak of the matter in his private capacity, and his advocacy of a flat rate was reported as being the speech of the president of the Association. ‘‘The Chancellor will laugh at the C.E.A. You will get nothing.’” He was convinced that the 18 must be retained. Mr. George Smith, referring to the inception of the committee at Nottingham, bore out the statement that had heen made that the 18 members of the ‘* Ginger '" Committee were not in any way taken under the egis of the C.F.A., “but agreed to work with them for the good of the trade. Mr. Low Warren also bore testimony to the manner in which the 18 members of this committee had been brought into being. and strongly condemned the C.E.A. for their present deplorable attitude. Mr. Chambers and Mr. Harris both spoke, the latter speaker asking if the whole of the renters and manufacturers were going to give their money to a new committee to do what they liked with. Mr. Cabourne said the committee had had a mandate from the trade, and he would like to know how they proposed ‘to deal with this matter. An Appeal ‘to the C.E.A. Mr. Adams, returning to the attack, said, ‘' We are a live committee and are not dead. P.C.T. will not subscribe one penny to any committee formed by the C:E.A.’’ and, following a protracted discussion, Mr. Gale made the following sensible suggestion. ‘* What has happened, has happened. Why not let the committee carry on? We ask the C.E.A. to send names of a similar number to work ag a joint committee: Don't sow seeds of dissension, but let us carry on as a ‘ Ginger’ Committee,’’ adding the significant remark, ‘‘ as I am sure that this is what the C.E.A. desire.”” Following, Mr. Peall moved the following resolution : The committee, having heard that the C.E.A.* have appointed a separate committee to deal with the Entertainment Tax matter, this meeting. views with ‘alarm the possibility ‘of two separate committees being at work at the same time, and. it is unanimously resolved that the C.E.A. be asked to again join forces with the Cinema: Tax Abolition Committee, which will continue to function. This was seconded by Mr. Hartley. Davis and unanimously carried. There ‘is little doubt that the grave blundar of the C.E. A. General Council in scrapping the present committee has aroused many grave passions, and is not likely to be soon for gotten. It will need a etatement by the C.E.A. president to put this matter right. . ae