The film daily year book of motion pictures (1936)

January 10, 1934. This duty is also applicable to film deleted by the Censor. Municipal taxes on box office receipts vary throughout the territory, but in general are from 15% to 25% of the gross receipts. Theaters — 248 actually exist in Netherland India, but due to the general unfavorable economic situation, from 10 percent to 20 percent are closed. Sound — 192 theaters wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1934 — Positive sound 2,170,020 ft. $37,636 Negative sound 4,800 ft. 48 1935— (First 9 months) Positive sound 1,336,669 ft. $25,850 Negative sound 1,600 ft. 53 NETHERLAND WEST INDIES Agitation — None. Censorsh.p — ;There is no law in the Netherland West Indies dealing with censorship. A committee is in charge of censoring films, but its authority is confined to stating whether a film is suitable for minor and adult or only adult showing. The committee has no power to cut a film or take out objectionable features. It can only say, in case a scene does not meet with its approval, that children cannot be permitted to attend. Competition — 95 percent American films are shown. At times a Dutch, British. German or French picture may be shown. Copyright Relations— Laws of the Netherlands apply. Production— No production of films in Netherland West Indies. Taxes-^No taxes are imposed on theaters or theater admissions. Theaters — 5 ; admission prices range from 16 to 85 cents. Sound — 5 theaters wired for sound. Imports from U. S. A. — 1934 — Positive sound 1,094,156 ft. $10,505 Negative sound 7,300 ft. 450 1035— (First 9 months) Positive sound 676,999 ft. $ 5,542 Negative sound 10,535 ft. 267 NEW ZEALAND Agitation — Amending film legislation enacted in New Zealand on November 3, 1934, contained the following principal provisions : 1. A requirement that the Censor include in his certificate of approval of any film, a statement as to the_ suitability or otherwise of the film for exhibitilon to children ; and provision for the publication of this information in press and other advertising. 2. Provisions for appeals from the Censor's decision. (This provision enables the Appeal Board of two members to deal with specific complaints with respect to individual films, and has the effect of reducing the number of general complaints made against the industry.) 3. Provision giving the exhibitor the right to reiect 25 percent of the films "block booked." (The position in New Zealand is considered to be different from most other countries, inasmuch as single feature programs are the rule. It was represented to the Government by exhibitors that the lower grade program pictures gave very unsatisfactory box office results, when exhibited under a single feature policy, and that, owing to existing circumstances, there _ was _more_ justification for a statutory rejection right in New Zealand than in most other countries.) 4. Provision for the use of a standard form of film renting contract. (After prolonged investigations a committee representing the renters and exhibitors, assisted bpr a Stipendiary Magistrate who acted as chairman, was successful in drawing up a standard contract form. This was duly gazetted on August 16. 1935, and is now binding. It is believed that _ it will provide a remedy for certain conditions which have been a fruitful source of controversies in the past. The standard contract provides, inter alia, for minimum admission prices of Is. (20c) for adults and 6d. (10c) for children, matinee price 3d. (5c) for children.) The Minister of Internal Affairs may, however, give permission to certain theaters to charge 6d. for adults and 3d. for children, but only in the case of films two years or older. 5. A provision to prevent unfair trading or monopoly of film supplies. (This provision is a concession to the renters to prevent "P9ols" of exhibitors and the like, from exerting undue pressure, or using unfair means in contracting for supplies of films.) Under powers granted by the above act, the Government has been enabled to again exercise control over the licensing of new theaters, and may refuse licenses where it is found that their addition would be uneconomic and not for the public interest This authority has been exercised since early in 1935 and already a number of requests for licenses have been refused. The quota for the year ending September 30, 1936. compels all film exchanges doing business in New Zealand, unless especially exempted from this provision, to acquire IS percent of British quota films. (That is films over 3,000 feet.) Most foreign companies or companies importing foreign films, also import British quota films, in order to make provision for the exhibitors' quota requirements. Several American exchanges are, however, specially exempted from this provision. Censorship — The Cinematograph Film Act, 1928, 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, 193 , under the Act., and are still eflpective. During the year ended March 31, 1935. 2.171 films of all classes of a total length of 5,314.410 feet, were examined by the Censors. Of this number. 28 were rejected in the first instance. 140 were passed subject to excisions, and 227 were passed with recommendations that they were more suitable for adult audiences. Of the 28 films that w^ere rejected, 25 were of American origin, two were British, and one was CJerman. Five appeals were lodged against the Censors' decisions, and. in one instance, the decision was reversed, while in four they were upheld. Competition — During the year ended March 31, 1935, British quota films numbered 121. with a length of 863.300 feet, and non-quota films, 554, and 562,820 feet in length. Foreign quota films totaled 360, with a length of 2,679.390 feet, and non-quota films 1,136. with a length of 1,203.900 feet. The above totaled 481 quota films, with a length of 3,547,690 feet, and non-ouota films 1.690, and 1,766,720 feet in length. A small decrease in the number of quota or feature films screened and an increase in short subjects or non-quota films are shown by these figures, compared with those for the corresponding period of 1933-34. The countries of origin of the quota films were as follows ; United States, 354 : Great Britain. 113; Australia. 7: Germany. 4; France. 2: Canada, 1. The British quota films decreased by 25. as compared with last year. Copyright Re'at ons — Copyright Act of 1909. by proclamation February 9, 1917, extended May 25, 1922. (A complete summary of the copyright laws of New Zealand is on file in the Commercial Laws Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.) A fee of Id. per £1 of theater box revenues is paid by New Zealand exhibitors to the local representatives of the Australian Authors' Rights Protective Association. Those exhibitors who are members of the New Zealand Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association are given a 20 percent rebate on these fees. Production — Motion pictures produced in New Zealand are mostly publicity films for oflScial use in advertising the Dominion to tourists. In 1934 the footage exported was 219,510, with a value of £1,014. This included also a small quantity of news-reel film. A New Zealand producing company organized in 1934 went bankrupt after making one film. Its one and only picture en 1194