Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 19 November 1946, page 3


TO CONFER ON ACTORS9 PAY

Film Men Agree

Ealing Studios, Columbia Pic-tures, and Mr. Charles Chauvel, all of whose acting contracts were declared "black" last week-end, have agreed to discuss with Actors' Equity the rates of payment of Australian film players.

The secretary of the actors' union, Mr. Hal Alexander, said yesterday that he hoped to arrange a conference within a' week.

Equity is asking for a minimum salary for players of between £.18 and £20 a week. This does not include "stars."

Ealing Studios and Columbia announced yesterday that they would confer provided the claims had the sup-port of a majority of equity members. A meeting of Equity will be held on Thursday evening.

"STRANGER" APPROVED

It was officially stated yesterday on behalf of Mr. William Lynch, of Endeavour Film Productions, Ltd., at present working on a film called "The Intimate Stranger," that the company's rates of pay had been approved by Mr. Alexander.

Contracts the company bad sub-mitted to Equity six weeks ago in-cluded a clause permitting players to engage in radio and/ or stage work concurrently with their work on the film under production, provided out-side engagements did not interfere with the studio's time-table.

Mr. S. Y. Gresham, of Ealing Studios (which made 'The Overlanders" under the direction of Mr. Harry Watt), said: "Ealing Studios in London has at all times been pre-pared to abide by trade-union agree-ments, and we are still prepared to do so in.Australia.

"When Mr. Watt returns from Melbourne we will be happy to meet Mr. Alexander and his council to discuss the matter thoroughly."

The company, Mr. Gresham said, had no desire to under-pay or over-work any employee. Chips Rafferty and John Nugent-Hayward, who appeared in "The Overianders," received £25 a week for about five months.

Rafterty's English contract was for a very high figure. He would receive it from January 1 next, whether or- not a picture was made.