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

-60 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. May 19, 1923. C.E.A. GENERAL COUNCIL IN NEWCASTLE. President Pleads for HIGH PRICE OF FILMS Unity and Fair Play. AND EMPTY THEATRES. (From our Newcastle Representative). P HE abolition of the Entertainments Tax and the high price of films were commented upon at the luncheon provided by the Northern Branch of the C.E.A. to the members of the General Council of the Association, who held their May meeting at the Branch Office, Grainger Chambers, Newcastle, on Wednesday, May 9. The luncheon: was served at the County Hotel, the chair being occupied by the chairman of the branch, Mr. William Carr, of Seaton Delaval. An Example to be Followed. The Chairman, in extending a welcome to the Council, commented upon the fact that the branch was not entertaining the General Council so lavishly as on former visits, and pointed out that the only reason for curtailing the hospitality was out of consideration for the fact that certain other branches were anxious to receive visits from’ the Council, and with some of those branches the question of expense was one of importance. Now that the Northern Branch had set the example of inviting the Council’ without providing for them an elaborate entertainment, it was to be hoped that other branches would follow suit, and that the Council would receive invitations from all paits of the country. (Hear, hear.) The Northern Branch was delighted to have a visit from the Council, and hoped that'the Council would not be long in returning so that they might find out at first hand what was being done in the territory. (Applause.) In the North they were entering upon a strenuous time. What with summer time, the Entertainments Tax, and the high prices that were being asked for films, they were not in the most happy position in the world. The difficulty regarding the high-priced films, in his opinion, would right itself. <A kinema closed was of no use to the renter, who wanted to sell his “wares, and he thought that: some of the renters were beginning to réalise that. If that fact were more fully realised by the renters the price of films would return to an economic level before long. The Entertainments Tax was being dealt with, and the efforts had the full support .of the. Northern Branch. They had got their teeth into it, and they must not let go. They must have enthusiasm, and let the people know that the exhibitors were going to fight to get rid of that millstone. The vote of confidence passed by the Northern Branch in the Entertainments Tax Abolition Committee was symbolical of the faith of the branch, and the Central Committee could rely upon the support of the Northern Branch in all their efforts to free the entertainment industry from the greatest burden that had ever beén imposed upon it. He trusted that before long that would be accomplished. (Applause.) Staunchness of the ‘‘ Black North."”’” Mr. F. W. Morrison ‘expressed ‘delight at once more being able to welcome his fellow members of the General Council in the city that he loved most on God’s earth. Once he heard a conference welcomed to Newcastle as the city which was dark, tender, and true. He thought that the members of the General Council .would be prepared to endorse that remark, and .to say that in all their blackness and uncouthness the men of the Nortb who had served on the Council were tender and true. It had been one of the proudest things in his life that the Northern Branch had been so strong, stable, and anxious to build up and uphold a strong organisation, serving the interests of the whole industry. In that work -he had some little part, but in latter days he began to feel.that he had got into’ the back waters, and that he was not going to have the privilege of again greeting his fellow members of the Council. However, in the kindness of Providence, that had passed away. He had been sincerely grateful, in his wanderings through life, at having had the opportunity of meeting men of such diversity of disposition as the men of the General. Council, When men were animated by a love for their fellow-men there was great hope for the organisation in whieh they were interested. The C.E.A. had such a body of men, he believed, on the General Council. Fruits of the Itinerary. Proceeding, Mr. Morrison remarked that for a long time the General Council had felt that they ought to make it possible for the smallest: branch in the kingdom to extend an invitation to the Council to hold a meeting in its area. No doubt the entertainment lavished upon the Council in the past had made that difficult. The Northern Branch did not want the Council to think that the absence of such lavish entertainment was due to any lack of courtesy, but only that they desired that invitations to the Council should be more general. They wanted to make it possible for every branch to be able to extend an invitation without fearing the expense that such an invitation was likely to entail, What were they getting from that itinerary? Two members of the Northern Branch who. had attended the morning gathering of the Council had. told the speaker that they had never before realised that in the Association were men of such big interests who were willing to give up one or two days every month for the good of the industry as a whole. If that was the feeling that the visite of the Council stimulated wherever they’ went, the oftener they . visited the branches the better it would be for the industry and the Association. ‘The Northern Branch was mighty proud that the Council had deigned to accept the branch’s invitation to come to Newcastle. (Applause.) Common Interests of the Industry. The President of the Association (Major A. J. Gale, O.B.E.). replying for the Council, said they were delighted to visit Newcastle again. Promises of a lovely spread or of lovely surroundings were no inducement to the Council to accept invitations to visit the branches. Their desire in wanting to visit the branches was that they should be able to let the members know that the Council had at heart the common interests of the industry the whole of the time. It was true that the Council was becoming very large—made up of representatives from every district in Great Britain—and that varied views were expressed by its members from time to time. He was sure, however, that if, in. their difference of opinion, some of them appeared at times to-give a little offence here and there, there was at the back of everybody’s mind only the sincere desire to do their utmost for the welfare of the industry. Avoiding Dissensions.. In the’ industry everyone was passing through very difficult fimes, and possibly they would have difficult times ahead for some time longer before they could say they had passed through the rough waters. What he desired to impress upon the mind