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FILM TRANSPORT.
CONSIGNMENT BY RAIL
Board Secretary Explains.
To the Editor.
Sir,-Whilst I realise that very
few people give credence to state
ments made by correspondents who
lurk behind initials or a nom-de
plume, those published over thel
initials R.H.G. in your issue of last
Friday under the sub-heading "Tra
velling Cinema Films Banned" are
so wide of the truth as to warrant
correction.
It is obvious that your correspon
dent knows very little of the country
cinema business. Many of these are
operated on circuits far removed
from the city, such as that owned lib
Messrs. Wauhop and Sullivan which,
from headquarters at - Kalgoorhe,
travels to Ora Banda, Menzies, Law
lers, Laverton, Linden and Por
phyry. Does R.H.G., who stated
"they (travelling picture-show pro
prietors) must pick up the films at
the film exchange, cart them to the
rail, consign them, and then proceed
in their vehicle . . . to the first
station on their circuit" really think
that these gentlemen from Kalgoor
lie-or operators from numerous
other districts . for that matter-
actually travel to Perth weekly to go,
through this rigmarole, or does he
make such an assertion for the sole'
purpose of endeavouring to draw
criticism upon he Transport Board?
Mainly for reasons of economy,
(ountry cinema operators are anxious
to use rail transport to some point
on their circuit from which they
convey films and projection equip
ment by road from town to town,
returning to their base each week.
Here a fresh batch is picked up and
the others railed to Perth. Apart
from economy, the journey to and
from Perth must be done in one day
as most shows operate every night.
As the responsibility of dispatch
ing films to arrive in time for screen
ing rests upon the distributors, very
little risk is taken, and the instances
are isolated indeed in which the
railways fail to effect delivery in
time for scheduled screenings. On
those rare occasions and in any
other emergency, permission is al
ways granted for road transport.
A perusal of the files, which date;
back a number of years, has failed;
to disclose one instance of complaint;
against the present system, which
appears to indicate satisfaction to_
all, except, perhaps, a road operator
on the look-out for some high'
freight-loading.---Yours, etc.,
G. SLATER, Secretary,
West Australian Transport Board.
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