ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - A BRIEF REPORT

The Annual General Meeting of the Society was held in the Central Library Lecture Hall at 8 pm on Wednesday, 16th February. About 100 people attended. The meeting was chaired by the President, Mr. F. L. Combs. The Annual Report and Balance Sheet were adoptd by the meeting without a great deal of discussion.

Election of Officers

Nominations were then called for positions on the Executive. Of the retiring Committee, Misses M. Thompson and E. M. Rutter and Mr. C. W. Holmes were not available for re-nomination. In each case the exact number of nominations required to fill offices was made and the following Execututive was appointed for 1949:-
President: Mr. F. L. Combs
Vice-President: Mr. A. S. M. Hely
Executive: (5 members) Messrs R. E. G. Allen, R. F. Griffin, C. K. Herbert, J. D. 0'Shea and H. M. Power
Hon. Secretary:  Miss, J. S. Bogle
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. R. J. Ritchie
Hon. Auditor: Mr. L. Spackman.

Subscription Rates

Mr. C. W. Holmes moved that the Single Subscription remain at 15/- per year and 7/6 per half-year as at present, but that a double membership for husband and wife be introduced at a fee of £1 per year. This was seconded by Mr. A. S. Holy and carried by the meeting. During the discussion, Mr. Guy Smith suggested that the incoming Executive consider levying a separate charge to cover the Society's subscription to the New Zealand Film Institute, which is estimated at the rate of 5/- per member. Another member asked whether the New Zealand Film Institute would regard the double membership at £1 as one or two members for purposes of the Institute subscriptlon.  Mr. Combs pointed out that a letter had been written to the Working Committee of the New Zealand Film Institute asking for a ruling on this question. Various other questions about the subscription to the Institute and what was obtained for it were answered by the Secretary who explained that the Wellington Film Society pays the same subscription to the Institute as that due by other Societies for film purchases and administration expenses. This amounted last year to £56.5.0 for 225 members.

Vote of Thanks

Mr. R. F. Griffin moved a vote of thanks to the retriing Treasurer and Secretary Miss E. M. Rutter and Mr. G. K. Herbert for the valuable work they have done for the Society. This was seconded by the President, Mr. F. L. Combs, and carried with applause by the meeting.

Release of Films

Questions were asked about the possibility of the Society doing something to speed up the release of such films as Fame Is The Spur and Hue and Cry, which apparently have only a limlted appeal at the box-office. The incoming Executive was asked to investigate the problem and also to enquire into the reasons for the prolonged adjournment of the Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into the Motion Picture Industry.

Censorship

There was some discussion on the Film Censor's action in refusing the release of the NZ Film Institute's copy of The Blue Angel, and the British Empire Film's print Brighton Rock. The Secretary pointed out that as the Appeal Board had dismissed appeals against the original ban in both cases, there was no further appeal under the present legislation. Mr. H M. Power suggested that the Society make recommendatlons to the NZFI for the overhaul of the present legislation to allow a more enlighteded policy in film censorship.

Programmes

One member complained about the lack of notice of programmes given last year. The Secretary apologised for the Executive's inability to circulate a programme in the past but said that one was being printed for 1949. This had not previously been possible as there had been an acute shortage of suitable films and the Wellington Film Society had to take its turn with other Societies affiliated to the Institute in screening what was available. This was inevitable in the Institute's early days, but the recent improvements in the supply position should make it possible to adhere this year to the published programme.

After the conclusion of business, the documentary Grass, directed by Meriam C. Cooper and E. Schoedsack, was screened.