The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

8 THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. -\,ELEGATES from near and far branches of the C.E.A. bD gathered together on Wednesday last in the Atrium of the Hotel Cecil for the Annual Meeting of the Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland. The agenda paper did not suggest anything beyond quite formal business, the eight items appearing merely ordinary, but quite an animated discussion arose from a point of order raised by Mr. J. T. Hallinan, in which he challenged the validity of the election of the London delegates, and eventually saw the point for which he was fighting carried in his favour, although not perhaps in the form he contemplated. Alderman Trounson, the retiring president, occupied the chair at the opening of the meeting, being supported by Messrs. Gale, Thompsoz, McDonald, Newbould, Goodwin, Morrison, Gavazzi King, Fuller, Norman Hart, and others, while among the gathering one noticed such well-known exhibitors as Messrs. H. V. Davis, J. H. Dovener, F. E. Adams, W. N. Blake, Siduey Bacon, McBride, Kaye, Stephenson, Hallinan, A. Smith, Dudley West, H. Percy, Bailie Wright, W. N. Blake, Gent, Peall, Sumner Jones, and other well-known personalities in the exhibiting world. The minutes of last year’s meeting having been read, their adoption was speédily effected, the chairman and Mr. J. H. Dovener being responsible for the moving and seconding of the motion. THE TREASURER’S REPORT. The annual report for 1922 having been adopted, the accounts and balance sheet were presented by the treasurer, who explained the items in a report which ran as follows: ‘‘ In presenting the revenue and expenditure account and balance sheet for 1922 I would like to direct your attention to some of the figures. ‘* In the revenue account it will be observed that the total amount of subscriptions is £10,781 10s., of which £5,277 17s. 6d. has been paid over to the branches. The figures for the preceding year were £10,796 9s. 6d., showing a small decline of £15 owing to reduction in grading. There was an actual increase in membership. If, however, all the arrears had been paid up the figures would have shown an increase, This year the branches have received £80 more than previous years, and headquarters £100 less. During the last month of the financial year a very large number of subscriptions in arrear were paid up, and in view of the difficult times through which members have been passing, the receipts from subscriptions must be regarded as highly satisfactory, and an evidence of the strength of the Association, ‘* Some portion of the premises are let—one room to the solicitors, Messrs. Hart und Mitchell, and accommodation is provided for the London and Home Counties Branch, for which rent is received. This accounts for the rents receivable. Mr. Hart succeeded in obtaining a sum of £130 for the Association, which is a welcome addition to the receipts. ‘*On the expenditure side the total for Head Office is £6,039 4s. 9d., as compared with £4,761 12s. in the previous year, but delegates’ expenses and publicity department, Green Street, accounts for nearly £2,000. There is one item in this account which will not recur unless the policy of the Association is changed, an item of £578 9s. 1d. for the publicity department, and another item, a Joss of £69 3s. 3d. on the annual dinner, which it is hoped will not recur. ‘* The branches have a surplus of £406 11s. 9d., but headquarters shows a deficit of £184 11s. 6d., delegates’ expenses, now for the most part being paid out of headquarters’ funds, will account for this state of affairs, “On the balance sheet there are chew assets to the amount of £4,871 17s. 4d., £1,881 3s. 7d. being headquarters and £2,990 branches. The £1,881 3s. 7d. is represented by liabilities to the Political Fund, £961 8s.; Parliamentary Fund, £278 19s. 1d. ; and the Entertainments Tax Committee, £311 7s. 6d. March 3, 1923. Annual Meetin J. H. Dovener Chos Blunder over London Deleg QUESTION OF ee we es ee i Be em mm wee weer ‘It will be noted that the surplus in the hands of branch trustees at December 31. 1921; was £2,474 12s. 10d., and the total surplus was £3,393 lls. 8d. ‘There is in the hands of the branch trustees a sum of £2,990 18s. 9d. for the yéar reported on, which, however, 1s not available for general a aaa unless by a vote of the Association. ‘* Although there are a few branches which have no margin, as a whole the branches are in a fluurishing condition. ‘‘I venture to express the opinion that, whilst there is need for conservative financing in the coming year, and the expenditure has come much too closely on the heels of the revenue, the Association is in a sound financial position, and I have much pleasure in moving the adoption of the accounts.’’ THE FUTURE OF THE FUNDS. Beforo the vote was taken on the reception of the accounts, Mr. Stephenson, of Manchester, rose to voice the appreciation of the Manchester Branch for the assistance given by the General Council in putting the Manchester Branch on a sound basis. In spite of competition the branch had established itself, and he believed they were going to be the best branch in the Association. Mr. Matt Raymond raised the point of what was to be done regarding their accumulated funds. It was likely that this might be muleted for Income Tax, and something ought to be done to prevent that. Alderman Trounson replied that the matter had been under discussion, and that the safe plan would be to place such funds in the hands of members as a trust; this would prevent the money being subject to the deductions feared by Mr. Raymond. A further point was raised by Mr. Kaye regarding sums paid into the Association’s funds as subscriptions, which should be shown, he maintained, as a liability. He urged that the subscriptions should be paid at one definite time of the year, and not as now at varying times. The next business was the formal item of the election of the new president, and, rising to declare him duly elected according to the Association’s rules, Alderman Trounson spoke of his own pleasure in having Major Gale as his successor, assured him of the support of every man in the Association, and welcomed him on behalf of the delegates. Alderman Trounson then vacated the chair in favour of Major Gale amid much applause, MAJOR GALE’S PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. The new Chairman opened his term of office with a brief speech, in which he thanked those branches which had given their support to his election, and spoke of the questions which would have to be tackled during the coming year. He recognised, he said, the responsibilities attaching to the office as chairman, but hoped that the tasks to be faced would be easier ASS