The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Nov-Dec 1922)

72 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. November 11, 1922. THE FRIESE GREENE FUND. Committee Meeting, at which Balance Sheet is Produced, Laments Meagre Response. ROMPTED no doubt by the comments that appeared in Pp these pages some few weeks ago, the members of the Committee of the Friese Greene Fund met on Friday week te examine the balance-sheet and, as we are informed, ‘ to discuss ways and means, and finally decided to make an appeal to the industry in the hope that before the fund is finally closed on December 16, a sufficient sum will have been received to enable them to accomplish the end they have in view, and to demonstrate that the kinema industry is not unmindiul of its obligations towards one who not only devoted his time and energy to the perfection of moving pictures as a showman’s but alse expended the financial that end.’ In the note that we have received from Mr. Will Day, the hon. secretary for the fund, he writes ats follows : proposition whole of his resources to “Tt will be remembered that upon Mr. Friese Greene's decease the trade undertook to provide not only fitting interment, but alo the sustenance ofthis widow and the education of two vouny children until they should have reached the age of 16 years. To this end a grave was purchased at considerable expense in Highgate Cemetery and ao public funeral accorded to the deceased. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Friese Greene also suecunibed and the expense of her interment was also defrayed by the fund, “At Fridays ‘s meeting it was reported that subscriptions received to date had amounted to only £700. and that that sum had been exhausted with the exception of some four pounds in’ defraying the cost of the grave. the two interments and maintenance of dependents, and that in order to fulfil their obligations, which include the permanent enelosure of the grave and the erection that a further sum shall be immediately forthcoming, “Thanks to the generous action of the Trade Benevolent Fund, of which Mr. F. R. Goodwin is chairman, the fund has been relieved of the necessity of providing for the upkeep and educa. tion of the two bows, but none the less it is incumbent that the of oa suitable memorial, it) is) incumbent considerable necessary sum to enable the Counnittee to fulfil: its original intentions should be forthcoming, and that without delay in order that the reputation of the industry in regard to charitable efforts may not suffer, “Tt is indeed regrettable to have to record that in the present instance, taking the number of cinemas, which practically owe their very existence — to approximating nenly 4,000, the total subscriptions received by Friese Greene's inventive genius as the organisers of the fund works out at less than four shillings per hall, and that, making allowance for hands :me sums contributed by individuals and trade associations, the list of eubscriptions whieh will be published when the fund closes will disclose the fact that the vast majerity of those who lave reaped the reward of Mr. Friese’s Greene's labours and zeal will be found emspicuous by their absence. “ Unfortunately, the fund was started at a trying period in the trade's history. whieh may in seme degree account for the Ineagre support accorded to it, while another factor in this direetion may have been the idea that the C.K.A. branches having viven donations, exhibitors were relieved of the onus of doing their part individually. If such be the case the fact that Mr. Gavazzi King is sending out a personal appenl to every showman as svon as the General Election fs out of the way, will give exhibiters an opportunity of giving practical support to the fund individually, and for the credit of the trade as a whole it is devoutly to be hoped that such a response will be made to this final effort as will make the subscription list thoroughly representative of every section,” Google With the Committee’s object we have much sympathy, but at the same timne it is impossible to get away from the fact that the mode of appeal for this fund has been disastrous from its inception. No use was made of the many publicists in the industry who were anxious to give their service, and who knew they could influence many thousands of pounds towards this fund. The mistakes made have been lamentable, and even to-day we understand that the sole idea of the promotere of this fund is to raise sufficient money to provide -a suitable memorial to the memory of the dead inventor. We, on our part, would far rather sce that money was raised so that Friese Greene's children should be well equipped in the battle of life, and we have no evmpathy whatever for raising large sums of money for monuments and other forms of memorial which do not help the children he left behind. If the money that is now being collected could be used towards the welfare of the dead inventor's children, then we are prepared to give it every support, but to make an appeal for monuments when two children are left at the mercy of the Cinemat raph Trade Benevolent Fund, is not only futile, but not particularly sensible. We hope the Committee of the Friese Greene Fund will think again before they devote any money that may be coming in towards useless memorials, and will look towards the wellbeing of the children so that they may have adequate funds not only to support them during their school days, but when they have to start: life ino real earnest. If exhibitors will subseribe to that end, it is only right that this trade should support the family of aman who made kinematography possible, We therefore trust that our readers will before the fund is closed, send along their subscriptions. C.P.M.A. MEET IN MANCHESTER. (By Our Own Correspond: nt). T was a poor gathering, indeed, over which A. Wilkinson, I president of the C.P.M.A., presided on Friday week, but several anatters of importance attention of those present. The Sceretary reported that the West Lancashire section had now been re-formed and that the matter of the proposed Sunday performances in aid of the local Hospitals Voluntary Fund bad been placed in the hands of Sir Robert Peacock (Chief Constable of Manchester). When his approval given the nevertheless occupied the had been arrangements would be put into working order. He further reported that the three trade Associations in the territory, C.P.MLA., C.ELA., and P.E.P.M.A. had, following a meeting. united on the question of the abolition of the Entertainments Tax, and that his offices had been adopted as the headquarters from which the territorial campaign would be waved. Also that Messrs. Fred Carlton (C.E.A.), P. Percival (P.K.PLM.A.), and himself had been appointed conveners. The sparse attendance at the meeting was the subject of comment, and also various suggestions as to the non-attendance of members were made, The suitability of the Exehange as a mecting place was again questioned, and so was Friday as the day of meeting. Tuesday, the original meeting day, was considered more suitable by one or two speakers. Eventually it was decided that this matter should be considered thoroughly by the executive at a meeting which the secretary was instructed to convene, : :