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

June 30, 1923. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 7 The Next Campaign. HE failure of tie latest campaign in its efforts to obtain at least a revision of the Entertainments Tax has, very naturally, caused intense disappointment to exhibitors all over the country. One thing that has probably been responsible for a great deal of the indignation on the part of the trade, as a whole, is the cynical manner in which the Financial Secretary treated the arguments of the promoters of the amendments in favour of the revision of this tax, and also the fact that many of the arguments that Sir William Joynson-Hicks used were entirely wrong, and full of inaccuracies. It is only natural that, following the failure of this campaign, the methods pursued. by the Tax Committee should have been somewhat harshly eriticised, particularly by Northern showmen, many of whom are exceedingly annoyed that in the lobbying in the House hardly a single London exhibitor was to be seen, and in point of fact Mr. Dixon Scott, the well-known Newcastle exhibitor, in the course of a very able speech he made in that city a few days ago, virulently assailed London exhibitors, particularly, in taking little or no interest in the campaign. Unfortunately this charge of Mr. Scott’s would appear to be very largely true, and it is very regrettable that such apathy should have been shown in London, of all places, upon a matter that is vital to every member of the industry. From other expressions of opinion that one gleans from exhibitors, particularly in provincial centres, it would appear that it is by no means felt that the utmost effort was put forward by all sections of the trade to get this heavy burden removed—a somewhat natural criticism after all the high hopes which had been enterfained had been dashed to the ground. The Tax Committee meet on Monday, and are, I wnderstand, to issue a report of the whole proceedings; pending this report many leading exhibitors have refrained from expressing their opinions. Jittle ix to be gained by criticising the efforts of the men who have worked hurd during the past few months, and whatever may be felt by individual members of this industry upon the conduct of the campaign, no one can deny that the Tax Committee have worked unceasingly in their efforts to bring this campaign to a successful issue. It is useless indulging in recriminations, and it should always be remembered that any disruption in the industry is eagerly awaited by the promoters of this tax. This defeat should make every member of this industry more determined than ever to get this tux either abolished or revised, and the flouting of the industry by the Financial Sceretary has had one good effect at least, inasmuch as it has closed the ranks and’ made exhibitors more determined. than ever to secure victory. A glance at the opinions from prominent exhibitors printed on another page reveals some real common-sense suggestions, and, in particular, the appeal of Mr. Dixon Scott is undoubtedly one of the most sensible utterances ever given in connection with this vital matter. He knows from: practical experience how we have gone wrong in the past, and his ideas for a new and more virile form of resistance in the future are emincntly sound and sensible, the next movement should be a more unified one than has ever taken place before, and, above all, public support must be enlisted. The one weakness that is apparent througli the last two campaigns is the fact that the public are entirely apathetic because no one has ever shown them how they will benefit if this tax is removed. Instil this into the public mind, and there is certain to be an insistent demand made to the Government for at least a revision, if not the entire abolition of the tax. Another important factor is that, so far, the Press have been hardly more than mildly interested, which again is a regrettable failure on the part of the people responsible. In every agitation that has taken place in the House of Commons the promoters have always taken particular care to see that the Press are well supplied with publicity matter, and that their grievance is well ventilated. Bearing in mind these two important factors in a new campaign it would be as well if the committee in charge cf operations co-opted the services of the very best brains in and outside the industry. The present Tax Committee have worlted well and have undoubtedly laboured very hard in their efforts to secure justice, but there are still eminent people in this trade who have taken practically little or no part in the agitation. It would strengthen matters considerably if men with big interests in this industry, such as Lord Ashfield, Sir Oswald Stoll, and Mr. E. E. Lyons, would display a little more interest in getting a revision of the Entertainments Tax. Lord Ashfield controls a powerful group of theatres, and on more than one occasion has, at public gatherings, referred to the terrible burden of this tax, yet one cannot find a single instance of his making any effort to get some alleviation at the hands of the Government. Sir Oswald Stoll is a great man in this industry, having large interests, and if he similarly coud be induced to serve on the committee his name would be a tremendous asset. What we require to-day before anything is a committee, not an exceptionally large one, composed of the best brains of the industry and representative of all sections to meet and to call in the advice of nen who have instituted successful campaigns in the past. There is no doubt that a small working committee of three or four men could, with an office such as Mr. Dixon Scott suggests and with adequate funds at their disposal, prosecute a campaign which would stir the country from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. Tt is no use relying upon the promises of members of Parliament who scurry like rabbits info the division Lobby at the crack of the whip. ‘The only way to secure sucecss is by getting public support and using every possible means in our pewer to show the Government that this industry will not sit down and be mere tax collectors. Until this campaign is properly organised there is little chance of securing any concession, but immediately the Government see that this great industry is thoroughly organised, and has enlisted the support of the Press and the public, then there will he a ready desire on their part to give it justice. Let there be no mistakes with the next campaign, and, above all, start right. atta tli