NUMBERS:

There has been a continuation of the steady growth in the number'of film societies. In 1970 the Federation had 19-member societies. Today there are 31 societies and there are at least 7 more in the course of incorporation and affiliation. A study of the membership returns shows an overall growth in total membership. For no particularly evident reason some societies show an increase in membership while others sustain a decline. The pattern fluctuates from year to year, but the general trend is nonetheless steadily upward. The greatest growth in numbers is recorded by the largest society, the Wellington Film Society, which now has a total membership of some 2,500. That is an impressive figure but we must not overlook the importance of the smaller societies operating outside the main centres, some of which have a stalwart band of only some 30 to 40 members. The growth in the number of societies does bring with it its own problems and I will be referring to these later on.

CENSORSHIP 1974:

THE CENSOR AND THE APPEAL BOARD:

REPORT ON THE FILM INDUSTRY:
A few days before this Conference the Film Industry Working Party of the Arts Council published its final report. This is an important document for everyone who is interested in films. It should receive attention and support from every film society. The report says that it is both necessary and possible to have a sound domestic motion picture industry. Funding, as ever, is the key point and greater Government support is called for. There is a wealth of local talent available if only the opportunities can be created. A sound financial backing is necessary for the creation of those opportunities.

The report recognises the contribution that is made by the film society movement in the distribution of films on a non-commercial basis throughout New Zealand. It encourages the use of that system as a means of securing the distribution of New Zealand made films - especially those which are not wholly suited to commercial exhibition. The report also mentions the Federation's tentative plans for the establishment of a National Film Theatre and recommends that the proposed Motion Picture Council should consult with the Federation about the proposal. 

ORGANISATION:

MISCELLANY:
Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Bill:
At the beginning of the year Harold White and I appeared on the Federation's behalf before a Parliamentary Select Committee in order to make submissions on the Government's well-intentioned but ponderous attempt at regional development in the arts. Briefly, we suggested that development in the arts tended to be spontaneous rather than artificially cultivated, that there was good reason to suspect that an imposed and complex administrative structure of the kind envisaged might do more harm than good, and that the existing Arts Council system was coping well and should not be disturbed unnecessarily.

Overseas visitors:

The Federation made arrangements, in conjunction with the British Council, to sponsor an illustrated lecture tour by David Robinson, formerly an editor of <i>Sight and Sound</i> and now a film critic for the London <i>Times</i>. Mr. Robinson is an expert on the Hollywood of the twenties and thirties and on the Great Funnies in particular. Unfortunately, this visit had to be cancelled at the last minute because of an awkward combination of other commitments on Mr. Robinson's part. It may be that he will be available at a later date. The Federation also gave assistance to the United States Information Service in connection with the visit by the American writer and critic David Denby. The Working Committee has been having further discussions with the British Council about bringing other suitable visitors to New Zealand.

Film Society booklet:

An excellent new 16 page booklet entitled <i>How to Organise and Run a Film Society</i> has been published under the editorship of Lindsay Shelton. All societies should make a mental note to refer to this at regular intervals. It contains some pretty good advice.

Common Programmes:

The growth in numbers of film societies means that the Federation may have to persuade societies in close geographical proximity to select their programmes together and, subsequently, to show them on successive evenings. The Working Committee is also aware that it may become necessary to limit the number of new.societies if a given area has existing societies present with room available for new members. An attempt by the Committee to formulate rules for this subject collapsed under the realisation that each case must be dealt with on an individual.basis.

Import Licensing:

Films imported into New Zealand for commercial screening, which earn many millions of dollars for their owners and exhibitors, are exempt from import licensing. Films imported by the Federation for screening by film societies - non-profit making, cultural bodies - are subject to import licensing requirements. This is a nonsense. But as is often the case, the greater the nonsense, the harder it is to correct. We have tried, and failed, in the past. We have just launched another determined assault and shall see what we shall see.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

I have already referred to the Arts Council. Our thanks are due to it for the interest in our activities displayed by its representatives, as well as for its financial assistance, present and future.
Once again, we must record our enduring gratitude to the National Film Library for receiving, dispatching, storing and taking good care of our films.
We are grateful, too, to the embassies and cultural legations who have made films available to us. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also assisted us by smoothing the paths of communication.
I conclude by referring to the members of the Working Committee. Membership of the Committee may be enjoyable but it is also time-consuming and not without its difficulties. Film societies everywhere owe much to these hard workers.

It was a sad year for us because of the death, in September, of Philip Allingham, one of our wisest and kindest members. He was one of the stalwart few who kindled interest in the film society movement after the Second World War. In the years that followed he made an important contribution to film society affairs.
A special and final vote of thanks goes to Vaughan Rosier, our nimble book-balancer. Vaughan retires as Treasurer this year after many years of skilful stewardship of the accounts. His diligence and his judgment have been invaluable to us.

David Gascoigne
Chairman - Working Committee

ADDENDUM TO CHAIRMAN'S REPORT