TO THE MEMBERS OF ALL REGISTERED FILM SOCIETIES IN NEW ZEALAND:

This is the first of what we hope will be a long line of quarterly bulletins to those who are interested in FILM as an art. It is largely the outcome of recent discussion by the members of the Working Committee of the N.Z.F.I. - the people who carry on the administration of the Institute between annual conferences. It has for a long time been felt that the executive of the N.Z.F.I. has had far too little contact with the individual members of film societies; to most of the Working Committee, the societies are known only through their President or Secretary, and to you, also, the N.Z.F.I. must be often only just a name.

It is we who purchase or hire the films which you see, to a great extent through the courtesy of the National Film Library. We arrange your monthly programmes. We do whatever is possible to ensure the preservation of worthwhile films. We endeavour to preserve and improve harmonious relations between film societies and the commercial trade interests.

Yet, as individual members who go to these programmes, and are, we trust, interested in the film as an art, you do not know us, nor are we able to know you. It is because of this that this newsletter is being published. What is in it, we hope, will be of interest to you. Whether it can continue depends entirely on your reactions to it. If you like it, please let us know - let us know, too, the ways in which you would like to see it improved. We cannot possibly know whether our idea will be a success unless you tell us. I can assure you that I don't in the least mind how many letters I receive - every one will be answered personally, and we should like to have a "Letters to the Editor" column also. Remember, the New Zealand Film Institute cannot continue to exist without the members of every society, no matter how small - it is your help, no matter how insignificant it may appear, that will ensure your continuing to see "good" films, and also the continuance of this newsletter telling you all about it.