Sir W. de FRECEasked the President of the Board of Trade if it is proposed to introduce any new legislation supplementing the Cinematograph Films Act in the direction of controlling talking films and their method of presentation; whether, in that case, he will state the form such legislation is likely to take; and whether, before introducing such legislation, he intends to make an inquiry into both sides of the controversy?
Mr. HOFFMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before taking any steps to comply with the request of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association for fresh legislation dealing with talking films, he will give an equal opportunity to the manufacturers of talking-film apparatus to state their case to him?
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Mr. W. R. SMITHAs has been stated in reply to previous questions, talking films are subject to the provisions of the Act in the same way as silent films. Certain representations have been made to me by the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association in regard to interchange-ability, and these are receiving consideration, but I am not at present in a position to make any further statement on this subject. I shall of course be ready to consider any representations that may be made to me by manufacturers of talking-film apparatus.