ART UNIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 8

ART UNIONS

MINISTER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE

SEVERE LIMITATION PROMISED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day. L deputation representing the Council of Christian Congregations waited on the Hon. R. T. Bollard (Minister tf Internal Affairs) to-day, and asked for the application as soon as possible of the limit i: £500 in the prize money for art unions, and also suggested that the opinion of the Attorney-General be obtained on the legality of the payment of prizes in cash instead of in ' actual mineral specimens. Speakers referred to the danger to the morals of the community through the development of the gambling spirit. The Rev. Tulloch Yuille stated that opinions had been obtained by the council on the law, and these assured the council that those who were organising art unions on the present system were breaking the law. They also felt that strict application of the law would not allow tickets to bo sent through the post. Mr. Bollard replied that the class of art union in which prizes were paid by cheque was operating, before he assumed office. In connection with the big Dunedin art union, he found that 30,000 pounds' worth of tickets were sold, and the expenses amounted to half that sum. ' He saw plainly that they were goingAo make a sort of Tattersail's sweep, and he had decided to put his foot down. Unfortunately many applications were in before he decided to limit the prizes to £500. That was.the position in regard to the art unions now in operation. He insisted before granting a permit that the gold dust must be in the possession of the bank. If he found that the £500 limit was abused he would reduce it by half. Before the limit was imposed several applications were in, and as each had to wait for gold dust, of which there was but £6000 worth in the. Dominion, it would take time to work them all off. He would give them till March, 1927. The Minister also stated that *he would prohibit the broadcasting of books of tickets.