The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jan-Feb 1923)

January 27, 1923. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING FICTURE NEWS. Expenses of C.K.A. Delegates, Financial Discussions at-Newcastle—(Cost of Tax “4 Campaign, ae = IFTY-ONE members, representing 68 halls, attended the “annual meeting of the Northern branch of the C.M.A. “which was held at the County Hotel, Newcastle, ov ‘Tuesday, January 16, and was preceded by a luncheon, at which only the loyal toast was submitted. Mr. J. 8. Snel occupied the chair at the luncheon and meeting. The annual financial statement showed that the branch commenced its year with a balance in hand of £92 8s. 6d., and £526 11s. 6d., being 50 per cent. of the members’ subscriptions, bad been remitted fron: the Head Utlice, making the total incoine £618 15s. 9d. ‘The total expenditure aniounted to #499 12s. Sd., leaving a credit balance of £119 2s. 7d. The following items made up the expenditure: Salaries, £200; rents, £50; stationery and printing, £22 14s. 4$d.; postages aad telegrams, £55 lls. 14d.; expenses of delegates and deputations, £#14U 14s, 2d.; gencral expenses, sundries, £1 16s. lld.; Conciliation Board expenses, £4 8s. 6d.; Chamber of Commerce subscription, £2 %s.; and Tax Abolition expenses, £12 5s. 4d. Income and Expenditure. Mr. Alfred Smith remarked that the balance sheet was all the amore satisfactory when it was borne in mind that the subscriptions coming to the branch were about £46 less than in the previous year. ‘he decrease in that item was accounted for by the fact that kinemas had been passing through a very bad time, on account of the depression in trade generally. Somes members had had to shut up their places of entertainment, aud others had liad their subscriptions suspénded. Mr. James MacHarg was of tho opinion that the balance sheet showed that a lot of money went to headquarters. If all the branches sent as much money as the Northern branch, London must be spending a lot of money. Mr. F. W. Morrison explained that the annual income from subscriptions to the Association amounted to only £11,000, of that amount 50 per cent. was remitted to the branches. He did not think that any other organisation was run on such economical lines as tho C.E.A. The premises at present occupied by the London office were too small for the increasing work of the Association, The present income of the Association was almost insufficient to mect its expenses. He was of opinion, having regard to the work to be done, that the Central Office was already understaffed. Whilst half of the total subscriptions were remitted to the branches, some could not meet their expenses on that proportion and the General Council made up any deficit, so that tho branches might be able to meet their obligations. , Delegates and Their Expenses. W. S. Shepherd, an auditor, moved the adoption of the accounts. He congratulated the branch upon having had a very successful year, but thought that delegates’ expenses could be very cousiderably reduced. The branch had already in London two members who sat on the Gencral Council, and their railway aud hotel expenses had not to be met by the branch. The branch seut two other members from Newcastle to the Council iueetings. He thought one member travelling from Newcastle would bo sufficient, and that one member would do the business as efficiently as two, since he was there to record the vote of the branch. He suggested that the number of delegates From our Own Correspondent, sent by all the branches to the General Council should be reduced so as -to bringabout a reduction in expenses all round. Four Still to be Sent. Mr. F. W. Morrison assured them that the £1 a day allowed to delegates did not mect his expenses, even though he went in the night train and returned on the following night. He agreed with Mr. Shepherd-that everything possible should be done to cut down the expenses of the General Council, but if they were going to lessen the number of provincial members in attendance at the General Council meetings, those near to headquarters could easily swamp any motion it they desired’ to do so. Previously, in their reviews of this question the Northern branch had always come to the conclusion that it would be unwise to appoint less than jour delegates. If the branch thought there were too many Mr. Womphrey and himself were quite willing to put themselves in the melting pot because the members had the right to elect whom they thought fit. : In the course of further discussion, it was indicated that the members desired to continue to send two delegates 1o London, in addition to Mr, Bacon and Mr. Thompson, who were already in the Metropolis. Tax Items. Mr. Alfred Smith, the secretary, drew the attention of the members to the fact that he had received -an account from the general secretary for £25 relating to the Tax Abolition films, ordered for the branch at the time of the General Election. He understood that the delay had been unavoidable, and, as the account was lying against the branch, he suggested that it should be paid out of the balance in hand for the year, and if that was done the balance would be reduced to £94.. Mr. F. W. Morrison mentioned that the Northern branch was the only one that lad not paid for the films ordered. The delay in the delivery until a few days before the election was due to there not being a negative in London, and a positive had to be uiade first. The films were not lost to the members of the branch, because they were to be re-edited and brought into use again. The Secretary stated that he had had a communication from the General Secretary intimating that if the account was paid the films would become the property of the branch, and the alterations done at the committee's expense. Mr. W. 8. Shepherd asked why the expense of acquiring the films should not be borne by the committee appointed to run the Tax Abolition eampaign. Some time ago the sum of £10,0.0 was provided and spent. If the new committee had any funds it should bear the cost of those films. P Mr. Morrison, in answer, explained that the original comnittee was representative of three sections of the trade, and the exhibitors only provided £1,800.. The coimmittce had been dissolved, and an individual had to provide 6s. 8d. to enable the old committee to meet its obligations. Now the Tax Conmittee was wholly responsible to the Association. The work had borne good fruit, and, so far, the money expended had come out of the Parliamentary Fund of the Association, but that fund was uow exhausted in consequence of the election expenses of two members who had put up for Parliament. There would be a Bill for the members of the Association and everybody else connected with the trade. They could not expect the men who (Continued on next page.)