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

E01 fi EUTEAEEAOEAEOOUAE HOSES TATED EE TTT MMMM MMM MM MMMM MMMM MMMM MT q On The Film Renter and ae’ Moving Picture News TT oT TTT LONDON Phone: Regent, 1468-9. elegraphicAdiress: ‘‘Wrightads, Westcent, London,"* MANCHESTER Phone: City, 5207. A me aN) No. 498, SSATURDAY, MAY 26, 1923. SIXPENCE, ER Ts a ‘ ‘ The Tax Problem | the retirement of Mr. Bonar Law has a very important bearing upon the kinematograph industry. In the change in the Premiership there has necessarily had to be a reshufiting of office, and as we write it would appear that Sir Kobert Horne. is likely again ‘to assume the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Such an appointment is a serious matter indeed for this industry, coming, as it does, particularly at the present moment when the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill has been reached, and exactly at the time when the highest hopes were entertained that the Chancellor would give some relief to an industry that is overburdened with 4 tax that is slowly strangling many of its members. It is true that Mr. Baldwin’s Budget did not contain any mention of the Entertainments ‘l'ax, but, at the same time, it is known that this gentleman was sympathetic to at least a revision, and members of the Tax Committee who have been lobbying during the past few weeks were extremely optimistic of some measure of relief being granted. TT upheaval in political circles consequent upon When Parliament reassembles on Monday the Committee Stage of the Finance Bill should be the first business to be taken, but whether the appointment of a new Premier will necessitate this business being shelved for the time being issomewhat problematical; in any case, it is safe to assume that inside the next few days the House will be busily occupied upon discussion of the Budget. Many amendments have been put down which deal with the Kntertainments Tax, and, as will be seen at a glance on another page, two of them at least definitely put forward a new scale of reduced rates of the ‘Enter-’ tainments Duty. It is probable that the amendment moved by Sir Walter de Frece is the one that would be inost likely to succeed, and if this receives the support of the House, as -it should do, it will have a very big effect upon this industry. There is also a proposal backed by Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy and Major Entwistle to alter thepresent incidence of the Entertainments Duty and substitute therefor an ad valorem. rate of ten per cent. Of all the amendments the, one standing in the name of Sir Walter de Frece is certainly the most important, and it is sincerely to be hoped that it will receive the utmost support of the entire House. It is gratifying to find so many amendments put down dealing with this tax, as it shows that the Tax Committee must have been extremely busy during the intervening weeks following the introduction of the Budget. Throughout the whole of the amendments to the Finance Bill that will be discussed one comes across numerous amendments dealing with revision of the tax. Also there'is a motibn. for the entire repeal of the Entertainments Duty; this stands in the name of Mr. Neil Maclean, the well-known Labour member. , . At last it would appear, therefore, that in a few days’ time the trade will know exactly where it stands. The crux of the situation will be the attitude of the new Chancellor to the amendments that are to be raised. If Sir Robert Horne assumes office the portents are not too favourable, for we have the liveliest recollection. of this gentleman’s unconipromising attitude last year. It is true in those days that Sir Robert Horne expected a deficit, instead of which, as we know, there was a surplus of over a hundred millions, so that it is possible that his viewpoint this year may have materially changed. The whole crux of the situation lies in the attitude of the 420 members who have pledged themselves to support a revision of this tax. If they are kept up to the scratch, and intend to stand by their pledge, then the battle will be won. It is no mean task that the Tax Committee have before them, and the amount of time that has heen spent by its members lobbying during the past few weeks reflects the greatest possible credit upon their endeavours. This work will have to be kept up, because everyone knows that immediately the Party whip is cracked there is likely to be much running for cover on the part of the more conservative members of Parliament. If, however, sufficient pressure is brought to bear upon these gentlemen to see that their pledges are honoured, then there is every likelihood that at least one of the amendments will be accepted by the Chancellor. Never at any stage in the history of this tax was the position more acute than at this particular moment, and never has there been greater need for hard work than the next few days will” reveal, il