ART UNIONS

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 9

ART UNIONS

PRESBYTERY'S OPPOSITION DETRIMENTAL TO CITIZENS' INTERESTS The Dunedin Presbytery, at its meeting yesterday afternoon, considered a report on th© subject of art unions from the Public Questions Committee. Dr Merrington said they had spoken on the question before, and he thought it was about time they spoke again. Art unions wore being thrust at them from all points, and everyone was urged to buy tickets. The following motion had been prepared by the committee: “The Public Questions Committee notes with deep concern the succession of public lotteries, called ‘ art unions,’ which have been revived by permission of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and reaffirms its opposition to the granting of these permits, inasmuch as such art unions tend to foster in the community habits of gambling and * trusting to luck ’ and because such practices aro detrimental to the moral and economic interests of the citizens, particularly young people, who aro thus encouraged to form habits which weaken the motives to industry and thrift.” It was further resolved that a copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted to tho Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Press. Dr Merrington said the matter was causing a lot of interest, and ho thought the Auckland Chamber of Commerce had taken it up. He was sorry to‘say that that body had decided to take no further action. They had protested to the Minister too ranch, perhaps, and he thought the position was that a challenge was being issued to tho moral sense of the community. Gambling was becoming a regular habit of the people, and it was time they asked_ the young people to pay more attention to the great business of industry. Their leading (men were occupied with this question, They wanted to inculcate in the minds of young people that if _ they wanted money they must earn it. The whole tendency of the times was towards art unions and gambling _ and to make people trust to luck in the hope of getting some windfall. He was convinced that the whole Presbyterian Church was behind them in the matter. The motion was carried.