PERMIT REFUSED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 285, 13 September 1933, Page 2

PERMIT REFUSED.

MONICA PARK ART UNION. OPPOSITION BY CHURCHES. (Per Press Association). • CHRISTCHURCH, September 12. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the • Hon. J. A. Young) to-day refused a request made on behalf of the City Council and Monica Park trustees for permission to .hold an art union to clear off indebtedness on the grounds. Monica Park was formerly headquarters of League football, but the League abandoned the ground last season and now the trustees derive a reduced income from the ground. Last night the City Council had before it an offer from the trustees to hand over the; park to the city free of liabilities, provided permission could be obtained for holding an art union. The amount of indebtedness is £II,OOO. Two deputations waited on the Minister to-day. First a deputation of city councillors met the Minister in private. Then a deputation from the Social Council of Churches, led by Bishop West-Watson urged the Minister not to grant an art union on general anti-gambling grounds. Mr Young said he had come to the conclusion that there were no grounds to warrant an art union. The park was originally bought -by a syndicate for business reasons, but it had not been successful as a business proposition. Had it been he did not think they would have heard anything about an art union. Mr Young said he agreed with the deputation that gambling was antisocial, but he had to administer the law as he found it.