The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

58 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. May 12, 1923. MEETING OF LIVERPOOL C.E.A. Return of J. H. Dovener—P.R.S. and Exhibitors—Singers in Kinemas— Poster Prices—The Broadcasting Resolution. (From our Liverpool ; Correspondent). OOKING fit and well after his holiday on the Continent, Mr. J. H. Dovener (vice-president of the C.E.A.) presided on Friday at the monthly mecting of the North-Western Branch, of which he is chairman. Back in Harness. Fred Worswick (Wigan, vice-chairman of the branch) prefaced the proceedings by extending to the chairman, on behalf of the members, a cordial welcome back amongst them. He trusted that Mr. Dovener’s health had been materially improved as a result of the change, and that he had. returned home ready to attack with renewed vigour the many and difficult problems with which the Association found itself faced. The Chairman, acknowledging Mr. Worswick’s kind wishes, observed that it might certainly have appeared to be somewhat strange that he should have left England the morning following the day upon which he had been elected to the high and honourable position of vice-president of the parent body, but he desired to assure them that he had completed some time previously to his nomination and election as vice-president all arrangements for his holiday. His nomination and election to vice-presidency had come to him as an agreeable surprise. It was a pleasure to ‘be back in their midst again, and he hoped to be able to make up for lost time in so far as the work of the Association was concerned. The Electrical Trades Union. A letter had been received from the secretary to the local branch of the Electrical Trades Union, said the Secretary, inquiring as to what the relations were which existed between that body and the North-Western Branch of the C.E.A. The reading of the letter was followed by a considerable amount of discussion, as the outcome of which, upon the suggestion of Alderman E. Trounson (ex-president of the C.E.A.), it was decided to refer the secretary of the E.T.U. to previous correspondence which had taken place between that organisation and the North-Western Branch upon the subject. P.R.S. Fees, Mr. Naylor (Futurist, Warrington) made a complaint that the P.R.S. had charged him a fee of nine guineas, whereas in reality they were only legitimately entitled to charge him five guineas. The Warrington Futurist was only a comparatively small kinema. A form was sent up to the P.R.S. with a view to obtaining the reduced fee allowed under the arrangement with the C.E.A., but the P.R.S. replied that they had never received it. Alderman Trounson said they appeared to be up against the P.R.S. every time. The P.R.S. apparently took up the position that, if application were not made for the reduced fee, members entitled to it could not expect to be allowed it. There were quite a number of members of the C.E.A. who were liable to the P.R.S. through one circumstance or another, and these cases were now forming the subject of discussion. Fred Worswick observed that, seeing Mr. Naylor had paid last year four pounds in excess of the ordinary fee, the P.R.S. ought to put him on the C.E.A. fee. He took it that Mr. Naylor had inadvertently omitted, from some cause or another, to fill up the form. In the result the Chairman suggested that a report setting forth the circumstances of the matter be forwarded to headquarters to be dealt with, and this was agreed to, The Chairman said he did feel a certain amount of sympathy with small exhibitors. What with Income Tax forms, Entertainments Tax forms, and other forms it was no wonder they did not know what to do. The Preston Meeting. Fred Worswick reported that he had attended a meeting at Preston in connection with the re-formation of the West Lancashire Branch of the C.E.A. He incidentally referred to the fact that Mr. Leslie Knight, who was against them, had died suddenly last Monday. Alderman Trounson called attention to the fact that it had been reported in the Press that the meeting had proved to be an abortive one. As a matter of fact he wished to deny that such was the case, because it was nothing of the kind. The reason why officers had not been elected at the meeting was that Mr. Carlton had endeavoured to get quite a lot of people into the branch, and these people had signified their intention of joining. The voting with regard to the appointment of officials had been simply deferred until such time as a convenient and sufficiently representative meeting could be arranged for this purpose, Finance of the Carnival. The Secretary informed the meeting that the accounts with respect to the annual kinema ball, held under the auspices of the branch at the Midland Adelphi Hotel during the winter, showed a loss of £15 15s. 10d. The Chairman: This will be paid from a private source without calling upon the financial resources of the branch. I think we should all be very satisfied with the success of the function, which is the best that has been so far held in this or any other part of the country. Everybody was thoroughly satisfied, and everyone had a really enjoyable evening. Fred Worswick observed that they were already aware of the identity of the person who was going to make good the financial loss on the ball, and he had much pleasure in moving a vote of thanks to their chairman for his generosity in the matter. C. Perry (Hope Hall Kinema, Liverpool) seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. A similar compliment was also extended to F. W. Locke (Belmont, Liverpool) and G. Dudley West for their splendid services in the réle of hon. secretaries. Alderman Trounson said that in the course of a year he had attended many functions in various parts of the country, and he certainly thought tbat Liverpool always came out well in such matters. The Liverpool kinema ball was a credit to the North-Western Branch. Helping the Hospitals. Reporting with regard to the business transacted at the last meeting of the General Council, held on the 11th ult., Alderman Trounson said that one of tha matters which had been discussed was that of helping the hospitals. A resolution on the subject which he had proposed at the previous meeting of the branch he moved at the General Council meeting, but eventually withdrew it in order that further views on the matter might be obtained and considered as to the advantages of one scheme or another. There was, he said, a widespread feeling on the part of exhibitors that they should go out for a scheme of their own. (Continued on page 62.) ‘a