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

June 30, 1923. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 13 DIXON SCOTT ON THE TAX. CAMPAIGN—Continucd. any information they wanted on the subject.. The men on the spot would become known to the Press and would learn the ins and outs of getting notices accepted by the newspapers. In fact, there is an amount of work to be done in this connection that can hardly be realised; but unless this work is put in hand, the victory which is necessary for the abolition of this unjust and crushing tax will never ‘be achieved. **I have always been touched by the pathetic faith which some of our spokesmen have had in the pledges given by M.P.'s when they were standing for election. The members of Parliament who are in opposition to the Government can naturally be relied upon, but those who are with the Government say frankly that, although they sincerely desire the abolition of the tax, they dare not vote against the Government because, however unjust the tax is, they cannot face the alternative of turning out ‘the Government when so many larger issues are at stake. That is the plain fact which we have to face. “* Everybody’s Business is Nobody’s.”’ ** The necessity for lobbying is very great, yet we seem to have passed from one extreme to the other. Last year, at this time, the lobbies were full of kinema-men, so that the members were almost afraid to come out of the House. This year they have dwindled down to a faithful few. There were never more than eight while I was there, but usually the number was four or five. Such an effort, continued for only a few days, is futile. ‘* Where were the British producers in this campaign? Whers were the renters? Where were the London exhibitors? Where were the representatives of the employees and others? Not one of these did I see in these three days. I do not think for a moment that they are one whit less anxious than ourselves for the abolition of the tax; I think they were not there because at present the campaign for the abolition of the tax is everybody's business, and, therefore, it is nobody's. ‘* There has been much good literature printed on the subject, but most of it has gone into the waste-paper basket of M.P.s. They receive so much literature from all kinds of organisations that they have not time to digest it all. What is needed is that literature should be sent to them at the right moment, in the right way, and by the right persons. For instance, all cases of hardship under this tax should be presented by the individual concerned to the M.P. for his own constituency, introduced through the head office of the Tax Abolition Committee, Pressure on Treasury Officials. ‘“ To drive our arguments home in the House of Commons is a big job. It is not a side-line which can be taken up hurriedly, or on which separate organisations can do any good by a few weeks’ work while the Finance Bill is being passed through Parliament. That is, indeed, a very bad time, for the atmosphere of the House is highly strung just then. It is a job that should go on from year’s end to year's end. ‘* The man at the head of the organisation must be absolutely impartial in his desire to help all sections of the industry. He must have a staff which will assist him to collect, tabulate and apply every fact and figure on the subject. He must know the opinions of every member of the House of Commons on the tax. He must be able to arrange and attend meetings of every section of the entertainment industry, and arouse them to enthusiastic and financial assistance in this campaign. He must have an office in London, where every man who is interested in’ the industry can apply for information ‘relating to the tax. [very man in the industry must feel that the organisation iq working for him, whatever section of the industry he belongs to. Members of Parliament who wish to support us would then know where to apply for particulars on the subject when they wanted them. Treasury officials would in time respect and take notice of your campaign, especially if they felt the adverse effect of public opinion on the subject, for that, in the final resolve, will decide everything. Public opinion must be aroused in our favour. Other Methods of Fighting. “The Tax Abolition Committee would then be completely united, and, failing any satisfaction from the Government, would be ready to decide on other methods of fighting the tax, such ag closing the theatres, refusing to collect the tax, etc. ‘A subscription of an average of a guinea per annum from xinemas would alone cover the first year's working expenses. The subscriptions obtained from other sources would reduce that to a smaller figure, or would reinforce the campaign. ~ The first hectic tax abolition campaign cost as much in a few months as would have proved sufficient for a properly planned campaign for several years. The tax is taking from us all £9,000,000 @ year. Surely the effort to shake off this strangling incubus would be worth the expenditure of a few thousand pounds.” Mr. J. S. Snell moved, and Mr. W. 8. Shepherd seconded a vote of thanks to the Chairman of the Branch and Mr. Dixon Scott, the Northern lobbyists, for their strenuous work, which was heartily carried. The Chairman in response remarked that in the past the members of the trade had paid too much attention to the niceties of the case, and appeared to be afraid of offending anyone. Now they must begin to say exactly what they wanted. : A Month’s Strike? Mr. W. S. Shepherd was of opinion that if other branches had shown as much enthusiasm as the North there might have been a different result. It was extraordinary that nothing had been accomplished when they had 450 members of Parliament pledged to vote for the abolition of the tax. The £10,000 previously’ spent had been thrown away. He prophesied that hundreds of small halls who had been struggling on in the hope that there would have been some concession would now have to close down. He moved that the statement presented to the meeting by Mr. Scott be regarded as a suggésted plan of campaign for the abolition of the tax and that it be forwarded to the General Council for consideration and for reference to the branches. He desired to have added to the suggestions put forward by Mr. Scott suggestions such as the promotion of petitions at every kinema throughout the country, the refusal of the exhibitors ahy longer’ to hear the trouble and expense of collecting the tax for the Government, and the possibility of concerted action in closing sll kinemas for a month in order to make the public understand that the exhibitors were in earnest in regard to the matter. Mr. F. Tabi‘ah seconded, and the resolution was carried. It was decided on the motion of Mr. W..R. Ruecroft, seconded by Mr. A. V. Adams, to recommend the General Council to impose a genefal levy of a’ guinea per member for the purpose of establishing a fighting fund in connection with the efforts to get the Entertainments Tax abolished. a be