MORE CRITICISM

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1934, Page 6

MORE CRITICISM

ART. UNION, FUND ALLOCATION. MASTERTON MAYOR’S VIEW. . . MASTERTON, Feb. 6. Trenchant critiesm was levelled at the . system of allocating_ proceeds from art unions, during the course of discussion on various matters concerning unemployed relief workers, at a largely attended: public meeting at;Masterton.:’ It was contended by several speakers that a far more substantial iproportion of the funds should he devoted to the relief of unemployed workers .and their dependents,, and less consideration should be given to sporting and other bodies.

Speaking of the decision arrived at in May last to allocate a certain amount of the art union funds to tlie various centres for unemployment relief purposes, the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, who, presided, said. Masterton had received its allocations in the first place, but they had dwindled away until nothing was received at all. He had received a cheque in June for a sum amounting to between £7O and. £BO. As the allocation from the “Better Times” art union he had received a : cheque for £43—a drop by half—hardly a sign of better times. The next saw the allocation halved again, the cheque received being for £2-2. In December an art union called by the very significant name of, “Happy Moments” brought nothing at all to Mastertsn. Nothing had been received from the “Lucky Surprise” tart union in January either. The allocation of a sum of £IOOO to a private tennis and croquet club, while the allocation for the whole of the unemployed inthe , Dominion had only amounted to .an equivalent amount, was referred to by Mr Jordan. The total proceeds from the art union were £BOOO. Of the total allocation for unemployed ericli of the four centres had received £250 each, while other towns had received nothing. He maintained that the pressing need of this country was to assist the unemployed, yet a private tennis and croquet club received as much from an art union as the whole of the unemployed in the Dominion. .Mr Jordan went on to speak of the amounts distributed among other private clubs and institutions. He said he had written to the Minister .pointing out that no allocations had been received in Masterton from an art union .since’last November, and asking for some assistance in the cause of unemployment relief.

' Concurring with Mr Jordan’s views, Mr H. Daley, secretary of the Masterton Relief: Workers’ Union, also spoke feelingly on the treatment the unemployed had been receiving. It had been thought fit to allocate a sum of £3OOO to the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club from one art union, and yet there were thousands of unemployed in the country in : dire need of assistance.-

My G. R. Syks,: M.P., felt that the .major ’ portion of the art union proceeds should be fur the relief of unemployment. .He. thought the- Minister of intfernal’ Affairs bad been wrong in making some of the allocations from .cast art unions.