Show Wide k on American Films Work Supported ed dish lith Bitterness in Australia SYDNEY United Press Press Press-Im- Im Imported ported motion pictures which in inthis inthis inthis this country mainly mean American films are being made the target of the tax taz gathering proclivities of Australian politicians Whenever more taxes are needed it is always the motion picture industry that receives first attention During the early days of the war the federal government Imposed an amusement tax on cinemas theatres theatres theatres thea thea- tres and all other places of amuse amuse- ment It still exists on the amuse j higher priced seats and was only rem removed ved from the cheaper seats less than a year ago Then the premier and treasurer of New South Wales Vales casting about for new tax revenues alighted upon the motion picture Industry Alleging Alleging Al Alleging Al- Al that American motion picture picture picture pic pic- ture magnates lifted untold wealth from flom this country without paying any taxes at the end of last year he imposed a levy of 25 per pet per centon centon cent centon on all profits going to foreign motion motion motion mo mo- tion picture concerns More 1 recently federal legislative leaders made another attack on the tax possibilities of the imported motion picture this time under the guise of a protective tariff Many attempts to found a local local- motion picture producing industry have failed and the latest attempt to foster It by prohibitive tariff was Wasi i initiated In the senate That body d decided to Increase the general tariff on films from 3 cents per pel lineal Uneal foot to 6 cents Before this rise becomes effective it must re receive receive receive re- re the sanction of the house of representatives The prime mover in the senate campaign for an increase was Senator Senator Senator Sen Sen- ator Grant a t New South Wales Vales labor representative who who- made a bitter speech against American films He lIe said that the 1024 picture pIcture picture pic pIc- ture theatres in this country showed an overwhelming proportion of American films as opposed to British or Australian ones He lie deplored deplored deplored de de- de- de the fact that there was SI so much American propaganda in the tha commonwealth and declared he ho was tired of seeing the everlasting skyscrapers sky sky- scrapers on th the the screen screen He be- be believed be be- ived that If all the American and other foreign films were excluded from flom the country there were sufficient suf- suf brains and enterprise in Australia to supply the great de de- de mand Senator Guthrie an laborite anti supported the move for the Increase saying that people were sick of American propaganda as there was always something flagrantly boastful about it He asserted American films wei were wele e the cause of most of the crimes In Australia and that there was a lot of s sensational sensational sensa sensa- and immoral trash thrown In Many of the films were suggestive tive and in bad taste he said The government tried to secure the defeat of the proposal but it was carried by 15 votes to 13 Local exhibitors declare that the additional customs duty will be passed on to the public If the house of representatives supports the ac action action action ac- ac tion of the senate They say the increase will have a harmful effect instead of a beneficial one upon the local loca movie producing industry Motion picture editors of Los Angeles and Hollywood were re recently recently recently re- re entertained at a luncheon by the First National studio In Jn honor honorof of Robert Lieber president of the company After arriving at the studio the hungry typewriter hounds were vere tal taken en on a tour of the studio of studio of which they knew every inch inch and and were forced to listen to the wonders of motion pictures pictures- which are but every day incidents in their lives And then to tei spoil span the affair still further publicity letters were passed out out t to all the guests Girls you Girls you who wear bathing suits made for swimming swimming-a a champion champIon champion cham cham- pion of your cause has been found in June Mathis Hollywoods Hollywood's highest highest high high- est paid paid woman scenario writer The bathing giro gir clad in a scanty plain swimming suit uit Is infinitely more modest th than n her sister clad In a and frilled creation suggesting nudity says Miss 1 Mathis Cinema producers out hero spend much of their time trying to figure out new ways to bluff the public But their last scheme carries things so far it Is apt to be a boomerang They are releasing all nil over again pictures that had their run six or eight eh ht years yeal's ago |