§ Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the promised inquiries with regard to the showing in the United States of a film made on behalf of the Empire Marketing Board are now complete; and can he give the House particulars?
Mr. THOMAS"Drifters," the Empire Marketing Board film on the herring industry, is distributed on the Board's behalf by Messrs. New Era Films, Limited. Up to the end of May it had been exhibited in one theatre only in the United States—the Little Theatre at Baltimore, where its display evoked a number of highly appreciative Press reviews. I am informed by the company that the standard form of contract, under which the film was hired to that theatre, and which would apply to any other exhibitions of the film in the United States, contains an express provision against any alteration being made in it without the company's consent, except in deference to the requirements of duly authorised public authorities, that no such consent was asked for or given, and that an examination of the film after its Baltimore showing confirms the exhibitor's assurances that neither in its captions nor otherwise had it been altered in any way. It appears that the publicity material issued by the Baltimore theatre in advance of the film's showing referred to "Gloucester fishermen," and the producer is personally assured by the gentleman responsible for its issue that this was designed to refer to the "Gloucester fishing fold of England." I am accordingly satisfied that the suggestion that the film was altered for its exhibition in the United States has no foundation beyond the theatre manager's misunderstanding as indicated in the advance notices which he 55W issued to the Press, of the geographical situation and industries of the town of Gloucester, England.