PREMIER CONGRATULATED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 7

PREMIER CONGRATULATED.

HIS ATTITUDE TO ART UNION*.

CHURCHES SUPPORT HIS VIEWS.

A resolution congratulating the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) on his clear and concise utterances in reference to the art unions menace, and urging Cabinet to immediately put a stop to such practices, was carried by the Council of Christian Congregations last night. The Premier was urged to prevent the issue of further permits, and to cancel any permits that might have been promised, but not granted. The Rev. G. Gordon Bell deplored the fact that nothing was done in regard to the greater evil of totalisator permits. The council ought not to be satisfied with congratulating the Premier on his siand with regard to art unions, when so much remained to be done in connection with horse-racing. He had mentioned t.hig matter before. The greater evil of totalisator betting went on with practically no active protest from the Churches.

Rev. J. J. North thought it a great thing that the Prime Minister should hare spoken as he did. Art unions were ' a popular and vicious form of gambling. He thought the Premier's recent utterance was the first voice of clear moral leadership given by a Prime Minister.! As for what Mr. Bell had said with regard to there being no protest against the granting of totalisator permits, every Church in New Zealand—except one — was a standing protest against the evil.