ART UNIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 191, 15 August 1933, Page 3

ART UNIONS.

SHARING PROFITS.

MINISTER EXPLAINS POLICY.

HOW FUNDS AHP AIXOCATED,

The policy followed by the committee of Cabinet in allocating the proceeds of art unions conducted in New Zealand was explained this morning by the Hon. J. A, Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, who revealed also that the current waiting list of applications for participation in the profits incorporated hundreds of names, covering every variety of organisation from the North Cape to tlie Bluff. Mr. Young, who was replying at the time to the representations of a deputation from the Franklin A. and 1. Society for early share in tlie proceeds of an art union, stated that tlie request bad been under consideration in conjunction with the large number of applications which bad been received from other A. and P. societies. "It is necessary, I think," the Minister added, to at this stage indicate the- general policy I have, endeavoured to institute with respect to the allocation of the proceeds of art unions in New Zealand. In the ciirlv days anyone who got in first ana obtained a permit from the Minister to conduct an art union secured tho whole of the proceeds. To-day, instead of there being a few score of applications on the waiting list, there are hundreds and hundreds of applications for participation in the proceeds from every sort of organisation in the Dominion, , unofficial and voluntary societies such as yours to semi-official and official bodies. Every sort of sporting and philanthropic institution is amongst the laiting list. That has altered the position altogether.

A. and P. Societies. "I have classified A. and P. societies with certain types of ■mini-official bodies which are per--5S a very efficient and valuable community service. They are run for service and not for profit, and in good timefl thev were able to come through without debt. At present ° r s al " sa ; tions like yours are feeling the stress of the times, and finding it difficult to pay their way, and whereoye£ drafts have been guaranteed banks.are now looking to tho guarantors to meet the liability obligations. Many of these men throughout New Zealand are in a worse position than the organtaatton itself, and are finding great difficulty in meeting their own domestic and business liabilities. In circumstances of that nature 1 look with favour on the civin" of assistance to organisations ot that "sort, which have rendered useful service to the community. I have laid it down, however, that no assistance shall be given to organisations for the building np of reserves or the creation of new assets." Social Relief. The Minister said a new phase had developed with the demands for assistance from art union proceeds from every kind of organisation that was administering social relief. The Mayors of the four main centres and other places had written in asking for assistance. Those applications had streamed in, and hosts of other organisations were applying for similar assistance. During tho winter months such claims could not be ignored, with the result that available profits had been devoted to the relief of distress. From each of the last three art unions £10,000 had been devoted to relief throughout New Zealand. The basis on which the grants were made was the most recent return of unemployment registrations in every part of the Dominion where there were 30 or more registrations. An analysis had shown that every alternate art union was "up and down," the difference in available profits fluctuating as much as £2000. In cases such ae the Franklin A. and P Society, where the organisation was finding it difficult to carry on, and members were carrying personal liability, the Minister said he looked with a friendly eye on the application, inasmuch as there was a desire to relieve those who were carrying personal liability for the benefit of the community. However, he was not able to entertain applications where it was a case of building up assets. It was deiin-to that A. and P. associations could not come into the picture until something more was done to relieve distress.

Some Without Merit. "There has been a flood of these applications in the last six months," said Mr. Young. "Never is there a day of the week, including Sunday, in which, the mail does not include at least a number of applications for assistance out of tho art union profits. I have an index, and the size of it would astound you. Some of the applications have merit; others have not. In the latter category I have in mind some forme of sport, such as where a "man drives up in his £1000 car. If, in such cmc 3, sufficient funds cannot bo found from the adherents to carry on, I do not consider it is tlie sort of organisation to be helped out of art union proceeds in these days."