Year book of motion pictures (1934)

provides that the approval of the Censor shall not be given with respect to any films or to any part of a film which in his opinion depicts any matter that is contrary to public order or decency. Regulations for the censorship of posters and other advertising matter were issued September 29, 1930, under the Act, and are still effective. During the year ended March 31, 1933, 2,060 films of all classes, of a total length of 5,213,870 feet were examined. Of this number, 62 were rejected in the first instance, and 230 were passed subject to excisions, while 165 were passed with recommendations that they were more suitable for adult audiences. Of the 52 films rejected, 58 were of American origin. Twenty appeals were lodged against the Censor's decisions, and in 8 cases the decisions were reversed, while in 12 they were upheld. Competition — During the year ended March 31, 1933, British quota films numbered 114, with a length of 739,360 feet and non-quota films 361, and 381,980 feet in length. Foreign quota films amounted to 373 and 2,874,390 feet in length, and non-quota 1,212 with a length of 1,218,140. The above totalled 487 quota films with a length of 3,613,750, and non-quota films, 1JS73 and 1,600,120 feet in length. The countries of origin of the quota films were as follows: United States, 369; Great Britain, 108; Australia, 6; Germany, 3, and Russia, 1. The British quota films increased by 24 as compared with last year. The advent of six Australian films were a development of the year. As three companies — British Dominion Films, Ltd., British Empire Films, Ltd., and Australian and New Zealand Pictures, Ltd., import onlyBritish films, and inasmuch as several theaters are screening or about to screen British films only, it is anticipated that 25% of the films shown in New Zealand during 1934 will be of British origin. Copyright Relations — Copyright Act of 1909, by proclamation Feb. 9, 1917, extended May 25, 1922. A complete summary of the copyright laws of New Zealand is on file in the Commercial Laws Div"sion of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C. Subsequent to that date it is interesting to note that the question of copyright is being investigated in Australia by the Commonwealth Government, particularly as it applies to the fees now payable by exhibitors on songs, etc., through the Australian Authors' Rights Protective Association, a branch of which functions similarly in New Zealand, claiming affiliation and the official representat:on for the Authors' Rights Protective Association of Great Britain and through them the Authors' Rights Protective Association in the United States. A Royal Commission was recently constituted in Australia to investigate the activities of the Australian branch of this association, and that the Commission has made certain recommendations to the Commonwealth Government. It is anticipated that the New Zeahnd Government will act similarly to the Australian Government when action is taken on the findings of the Commission. Production — Motion pictures produced in New Zealand were exported to the extent of approximately 25,000 feet in 1932, and approximately 7.500 feet in 1933. The above figures combine the footage for both the 36 and 16 m'llimeter films. These were practically all Government publicity films, but a small proportion was news reel film made in New Zealand. Taxes — Under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1928. the taxable income derived by any person from the business of renting films shall be deemed to be not less than 12J/$%'of the gross receipts derived from such business. This became operative as from April 1, 1928. The rate payable is on a sliding scale, the maximum now being 4s. 6d. in the f plus 30%. In Septemper, 1930, the Film Hire Tax was passed. the gross receipts from the renting of foreign films after allowing a deduction of all expenses paid in New Zealand and an amount equal to 12 '/2% of the gross receipts derived from the renting of sound films, being taxed 25%. The rate on British films is 10%. The duty of Id. per foot, payable on all foreign importations of films, was cancelled as from July 1, 1930. The advantages of this system of taxation were : (a) That it was directly in proportion to the net receipts from and therefore the value of film. (b) That it did not restrict the importation of film in any way. (c) That it was only payable after the monies were received by the renter, and thereby reduced the actual capital required for the operation of the business. (d) That it came into immediate operation and the Government derived revenue from the films already imported which would otherwise have escaped taxation. It is necessary to secure a renter's license to operate in New Zealand. A Parliamentary inquiry has just been completed concerning motion picture taxation in New Zealand, but it is not believed that any change in the existing system of taxation will be recommended. Theaters — Theaters and halls in New Zealand where film exhibition insurance has been taken out total 335. These are divided as follows: Screening not more than six nights weekly.. 17 J Screening not more than four nights weekly.. 47 Screening not more than two nights weekly.. 115 Sound — 324 theaters and halls occasionally used by itinerant exhibitors are wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1932— Negative, sound 51,850 ft. $1,304 1932— Positive, sound 2,910,862 ft. 57,433 1933— First Six Months: Negative, sound 14.708 ft. 200 1933 — Positive, sound 1,640,784 ft. 31,187 DISTRIBUTORS AND IMPORTERS WELLINGTON Australia & New Zealand Pictures Limited, De Luxe Buildings, Courtenay Place. Celebrity Pictures Proprietary Limited, National Bank Chambers, Courtenay Place. Fox Film Corporation (A/sia) Limited, O'Neill's Buildings, Courtenay Place. Greater Australasian Films (N. Z.) Limited, Hope Gibbon's Buildings, D'xon Street. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (N. Z.) Limited, Druid's Chambers. Lambton Quay. Paramount Film Service (N. Z.I Limited, Crown Buildings. Corner Cuba and Dixon Streets. R K.O. Radio Pictures (A/sia) Limited, "Evening Post" Building. Willis Street. Uirted Artists (A/sia) Limited, O'Neill's Buildings, Courtenay Place. Universal Film Manufacturing Company (A/sia) Limited. Martin's Buildings, Courtenay Place. Warner Bros. -First National Pictures Limited, Hope Gibbon's Buildings, Dixon Street. Nicaragua Agitation — None. Censorship — Censorship of films by judges to be appointed by the Ministry of the Interior. Competition — Nearly all films are American. Copyright Relations — Inter-American Copyright Convention. Mexico Citv and Buenos Aires, Tan. 27, 1902 and August 11, 1890. Ratified July 13. 1914. Production —None. Taxes Very high. Theaters — Sixteen in Western Nicaragua. Managua 4, Granada 1, combined seating capacity 11.700 seats. 12 theaters wired for sound. Sound on film 9. sound on film portable 1, synchronized records 2. 1040