Kinematograph year book : 1931 (1931)

150 The Kinematograph Year Book. {:) Celluloid Stores, i.e., places where for sale, hire, or pro&t, either (a) kinematograph film is kept or stored in quantities exceeding 20 reels or 80 lbs., or, where smaller quantities are kept, etc., unless the reels are kept in separate closed metal boxes or (b) unmanufactured celluloid is kept in quantities exceeding 112 lbs. weight. These stores must be registered with the Council (from whom forms can be obtained). The registration fee is los. 6d. (London Act, s. 4). The same provisions apply to stores as to factories under head (6), but the Council has no power to dispense with any of the requirements as unnecessary (London Act. s. 7). Where buildings were before the Act partly used as a celluloid factory or store and partly for other purposes, and film is used or handled therein, then, if the Council requires structural alterations before giving any consent, the owner of the building must be notified, and, if the Council requires as a condition the provision of means of escape from fire, the person using the building must be notified. In each case if the person notified objects to the requirement, he can claim arbitration (London Act, s. 9). Once the consent or approval of the Council is obtained, no further request can be made unless the conditions materially change (London Act, s. 11). The elaborate provisions as to storage of celluloid and celluloid film do not come into operation until the Defence of the Realm Regulation is revoked (London Act, s. 12) . In Glasgow they came into force on January ist. 1917. If anyone affected by a decision of the Council objects to it, he has an appeal to a Police Magistrate (London Act, s. i.^). The Council may appoint officials who have power to enter any premises, take samples, and have them analysed (London Act, s.21). The general procedure for infringing the Act is a prosecution with a maximum penalty of /20 and ;^io a day if the offence is continuing (London Act, s. 2), but in the case of selling film to a person apparently under sixteen without a written order from a responsible person, the penalty is up to £2 for the first offence ; £5 for the second ; and £1 o for the third and later offence (London Act, s. 24). These Acts do not apply to Theatres, Music Halls and Kinemas (London Act, s. 25), nor to films, etc., while in transit on railways (London Act, s. 30). (2) Defence of the Realm Regulation 35. — No person may have in his possession, or in premises in his occupation or under his control, any celluloid or film exceeding the prescribed amount without a permit. The police are charged with the duty of enforcing the regulation, and may enter premises and may remove and destroy any celluloid or film found there without a permit or in breach of the terms of the permit. Orders under this Regulation have been made as to Birmingham, Leeds, London, and Nottingham. The London Order is the only one referring to celluloid ; and allows 112 lbs. to be kept without a permit. The requirements as to permits are expressed not to apply to kinemas or to factories which are under the Dangerous Trade Regulations (Factory Act, 1901). TRANSIT BY RAIL. Railway Regulations in regard to Film Boxes. — ^The specification of the Railway Clearing House ot the type of metal boxes required by the Railway Companies to be used for the transit of films is as follows : Boxes must be rectangular, wood-lined cases, to hold not more than six films and measure not more than 14J inches outside either way. They must be made of galvanised iron of not less thickness than .022 of an inch (No 25. B.G.) for the small one and two film cases, and not less than .028 of an inch (No. 23 B.G.) for the larger sizes (three to six film cases). All the corners of the sides and bottom must be strengthened by folding seams, the top of the body haviflff wired edges turned inwards. The hinged lid