METHODIST PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 13

METHODIST PROTEST

ART UNION BUSINESS

THE PUBLIC MORALE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WANGANUI, 19th November.

A protest at the running of art unions was made at a meeting of the Methodist Synod this morning, when the following resolution was passed 'on the recommendation of thu Connoxional Temperance and Public Morals Committee:

"That this synod records an emphatic protest against the present abuse of art union permits and the flooding of countries with lotteries which aro fostering the gambling spirit, and offering deadly facilities to our young peoplo to indulge in a spirit universally detrimental to the highest citizenship, and we further urge our members and adherents to leave severely alono this dangerous thing." . The committee reported that it had during the year taken joint action with other churches' representatives in making representations to the Prime Minister on the<question of gambling, pointing out what they believed to be the demoralising effect of the wholesale issue of art union permits as a means of revenue-raising for public purposes, and emphasising that the advantages of such an effort were far outweighed by the evidence of a spirit engendered in the community that was destructive to the thrift and morale of the people.

"This constant and debauching appeal to the cupidity of the people of New Zealand is fast beeomming a scandal," declared'the Ecv. E. S. Emmitt, M.C., liawura, who presented the committee's report. "The professed interest of a good many art union subscribers in many of t'ii c efforts in the cause of philanthropy and charity is simply a veneer for tlie gambling spirit—a desire to get something for nothing, but -we must first set our own house in order," said the Xcv J. Olphert. "Our own peoplo must free themselves from any complicity with such things, otherwiso people who read our resolutions will charge us with hypocrisy."