ART UNIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 8

ART UNIONS.

"With reference to recent letters on the above subject in your columns, while it is doubtful if the Government will ever sanction an oflicial lottery, as being against national principles, there is no doubt that the public generally is not satisfied with the way our. art unions are run, as is easily shown by the way the profits have tumbled down to onethird of what they used to be. The remedy would be (1) to r*ain the public's complete confidence in the methods adopted for drawing the prizes, placing the draw under the supervision of a different citizen of standing each, time, to be nominated at the last moment, and to be otherwise unconnected with the management of the art union; and (2) to make the amount available for prizes depend on the amount received and be a fixed proportion, say, one-half of the amount left over after deducting administrative expenses. At present the first prize absorbs much too big a fraction and has largely reduced the chances of getting any return at all for one's money, for which most people would be grateful. Instead of one prize of £2000 and one of £000 to start off with, any ordinary punter would be much better pleased with one of £.->OO. five of £100, and 10 of £.iO, with, say, 50 of £10 and 400 of £5, it to be understood that this would be the minimum allotment of prizes, to be Increased pro rata if the receipts permitted, according to the proportion fixed in advance. There can be no possible doubt that the »v*ratrc citizen would sooner invest locally than abroad if lie thought he was getting an equally fair spin for his money, which at present fee certainly does not think. COMMON-SENSE REGULATION.