; aig inst Labour's plan to j i 3 P renationali ‘ees eee ee ane to a report in the Financial Times, Jan ist ae He ~ will be newspaper advertising and tho Ate Fe foiix t— 7 po reanery as said, will be to tell the electorate "quite aTeae.: NM p ta it and stab tated mud-slinging, what the industry has Saiio” $e cas egies In addition, inépendent oompanios will be free
wn campaigns. Federation officia j i lose how much the canpai i cern beet oh
paign will cost It is still not kno
. =: - > = mes ho ai hs Son on anti-nationalisation advertising before tho last jee sstection, though a figure of £300,000 has been suggosted.s CAMPAIGN PLANNED TO KEEP RESALE PRICE MAINTENANCE
Any moves to end resale price maintenance are to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers through their gia ce tions, The Presidtnt of the Board of Trade has promised a statement soon on Government policy on fixed prices and the Resale Price Mainte— nance Co-ordinating Committee, representing 32 national trade bodies, is to mount a big campaign if this statement proves unsatisfactory.
‘’anch this month
se the steel
Meanwhile, opposition is being organised to John Stonehouse!'s Private Member's Bill to end R.P.M., due for its second reading on January 17e Despite the fact that he is a Co-ap M.Pe, the movement is not supporting the Bill and the latest edition Co-operative News is critical of it. Individual trade associxntions are organising a mass lobby of M.P.s and the National Chamber of Trade has circulated its members urging them to actively oppose ths Bille Amongst those anxious about the growing support for ending the manufacturer's right to enforce prices are tobacco companies, furniture makers, the motor industry and manufacturers of electrical goodse INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING THREATENED BY BRITISH LION TAKE OVER
An article in tho Financial Times of Jauuary 1st links the plan to dispose of the assets of the Government controlled British Lion Company to private interests with the present crisis in independent film production: "...(the two) may seem to have little connection, In fact they are closely — and possibly fatally - linked. Some of the independent producers argue that the production crisis has been caused by the policy of ADC and Rank in making many independently financed films wait up to 9 months for a showing on their circuits. As a result, the independents cannot get money tm finance further films,
"any of these small producers got a proportion of their money from British Lion, which is the only distributor independent of ATC and Rankeeee If Mr. Box takes over ...the independents fear the company may fall into the maw of the two giants. So the whole crisis now rev= olves around the fate of British Lione
"Independent producers are worried...for a number of reasons. Firstly, Box...is not universally regarded as an outstanding film producer...Secondly, Box, like his sister Betty has worker for long periods with Rank...However, even if the prospective now owner gained golden opinions from the industry, producers would still be opposed to anyone other than the Government controlling British Lione