ART UNIONS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 13

ART UNIONS

Presbyterian Protest

DIRECTION TO CHURCHMEN Criticism of the ar> unions which are being run in the Dominion was heard at the last meeting of the Wellington Presbytery. Objection was taken also to the manner in which the City Council has allowed tickets to be sold in the streets. It was decided to protest to the Prime Minister and thd Minister of Internal Affairs, asking for a reversion to the situation which prevailed when he assumed office. So far as the members of the Presbytery knew, no financial statement had been published in connection with these art unions, and as in the twelve art unions held during the 18 months ended March 31, 1927, it was stated that the total profit of £126,200 cost £91,000 in advertising and labour to produce—in one case £6lOO having to be spent to get £lO0 —it was felt that a financial statement of the present art unions was due. The Rev. J. R. Blanchard presented the following statement to be sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs, to which the Presbytery unanimously agreed:— “In view of the present Governments action in reviving art unions in the Dominion, in spite of the assurance given us by the late Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) that ‘his colleagues were unanimous that it was not in the public interest that that kind of thing should go on,’ and of his subsequent action in bringing such art unions to an end on March 31, 1927, we, the Presbytery of Wellington, affirm: — , ' “1. The Act relating to art unions was not framed with the intention of making legal such permissions as the Minister of Internal Affairs is at present grantIn “2. The extension of the present permissions for art unions to New Zealand s national game of Rugby, for the alleged ‘good of the game,’ is specially to be condemned, for it is well-known that gambling corrupts every sport which It is allowed to touch. “3 The advertisements are particularly harmful. Their slogans .. . appeal to and foster the spirit of cupidity, aD “4 U The Minister of Internal Affairs, in granting these permissions, is thus promoting and spreading both the spirit and practice of gambling throughout the Dom'“s°nThe" attitude of the present Government is deplored because it is acting either in ignorance or in spiteot the clear guidance of. experience. The Presbytery therefore directs all faithful people under its care to discountenance these art unions, both by precept and example. and, further, strongly requests that the Minister of Internal Affairs immediately reverts to the situation as it was when he assumed office.