asked the Minister for Justice if when fixing the fee of one shilling per 100 feet for the censoring of films the undertaking was given by his Department to the Film Renters' Association to the effect that the Film Censor's Department was to be self-supporting out of such fees, and that any surplus would be surrendered to the Film Renters' Association for division pro rata to the film renters from whom such fees were collected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censoring of Films.
No undertaking was given by my Department to the effect that the Film Censor's Office was to be self-supporting and that any surplus would be surrendered to the Film Renters' Association. The position is that Section 11 of the Censorship of Films Act, 1923, provides that the fees to be charged under the Act shall be arranged from time to time so as to produce as nearly as may be an annual sum sufficient to discharge the salaries and other expenses incidental to the working of the Act.
Is the Minister aware that the fees now charged produce about twice as much as is required?
No, nothing like twice as much. Last year there was a surplus of £169. The Deputy will also understand that very heavy expenses are now being incurred by the Films Board because an apparatus to deal with "talkies" has to be put in, and it is quite possible that the existing fees will have to be raised.
Is the Minister aware that the year previous to last year there was a surplus of about £1,400?
It was not a surplus. There was an accumulated surplus. In 1924-5 there was a very large surplus, and then the rent was reduced. From that time onwards the surpluses have not been so large. The Deputy is correct in stating that the accumulated surpluses from the beginning had reached close on the sum he mentioned.
If at any time the surplus shows signs of increasing, would the Minister reconsider the point of the film renters?
Of course, if it became obvious that the sums charged were more than necessary they would have to be cut down, but the Deputy, I am sure, will agree that it is necessary to have a certain little sum laid aside for contingencies and to replace anything that might go wrong in the apparatus or that kind of thing. Wear and tear and all that must be taken into account.