Film Transporters Aim to Promote Economy
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ST EPS are being taken by Associated Film Carriers to effect drastic economies in the -number and mileage of vehicles used for the transport of films between renters' depots and the picture theatres. This is the result of a suggestion made, in the first, place,. by the Ministries of War Transport and of Mines to the Kinematograph Renters Society, which, in turn, sought the co-operation and assistance of Associated Film Carriers. The lattef . is now endeavouring to work out a scheme which, whilst • eliminating all overlapping and redundant running, c-nvisages the opening of new routes where these are considered 'desirable to replace merged journeys.
An initial difficultyto be overcome is how to secure the alignment of vehicles. operated independently of the carriers' organization. They come within two categories—(a) vans• and lorries useci for general traffic, includi,ng filins, or 'belonging to carriers not in the Association, and (b) vehicles, used by exhibitors who undertake their own. transport.
It is understood that vehicle owners . these categories have been approached by Associated Film Carriers with the proposition that, for the war period, they should assist and co-operate in the creation of the revised' traffic organization, by permitting their traffic to be ha'nded over to a carrier who is already serving, or is about to serve, certain districts.
There are about 4,500 picture theatres in the country and most of them are served by road transport. If the average consuniption of film be only 15,000 ft. per week (actually it is much more), then there is a regular two-way traffic of at least 68,000,000 ft. of film per week. In addition, there are certain trunk services between the renters' film depots.
The urgency for prompt action is being stressed. If the organized film carriers and the cinema trade do not hammer.out a suitable scheme, there is a danger that the Ministries will do so.