RELIEF OF DISTRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 14

RELIEF OF DISTRESS

ART UNION PROCEEDS

THEIR PRINCIPAL MISSION

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 17. The large number of applications for art union permits by all kinds of societies to enable money to be raised either to resuscitate their funds or to ensure development of their operations was commented upon by the Minister of Internal Affairs, .(the Hon., W.. .E. Parry), when replying to^ a deputation which sought a permit for- a;rsports body, f r , ■■•;. .■ '.■■. :

"There is no diminution; of-these applications," said, the Minister. ; "They are among nearly- all mail-that comes to me daily. Many of the applicants, if not asking for a direct permit, apply for a proportion of the profits of the £4000 alluvial gold art unions.

"The j spflnsors of the applications show fine zeal in pressing. 'the undoubted merits of the causes which they champion, but there must be. a strict regulation of the permits issued. That regulation- I have from the outset of my administration of the Department been careful not to deviate from. While it; is still unfortunately necessary for the existence of mayoral relief funds, the whole of the profits of the alluvial gold art unions, with the exception of a surplus kept in hand for allocation in .small urgent edses, are paid over to the various mayors' 'funds, and my correspondence shows how well that money is dispersed iand what splendid help is given* in really distressing cases.

"With the knowledge .1 have of that particular feature of: the benefits given to the relieving of the distress, distress from which there would seem to be no way out, I sometimes1 feel that I could congratulate every purchaser of an art union ticket," stated the Minister. "My feelings in this way are engendered by the good- that is achieved, in-the allocation'of the-money raised'; and are quite apart'from the criticism made at tunes, against the continuance of art unions for the relief of distress.'.'