THE ART UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 5, 3 December 1932, Page 2

THE ART UNION.

(To the Editor. 1 Sir, —AVhat an eyeopener is afforded us. when we read, that the promoters of only one art union aro able to give away in prizes and donations the groat sum of £14,000, and perhaps this amount not one-half of the gross proceeds of the venture. Though not in a position to go be-

hind the scenes, and view the multitude of the various wheels of the machinery to bring to perfection this modern means of extracting from the already impoverished public purse the colossal number of half-crowns, yet even the audience in the theatre can imagine how many must be gathered in by the array of agencies employed throughout the Dominion for the completion of these monthly art unions. No wonder there is such a rush by the many applicants to the powers that be for permits to run the next. We do not read of gatherings of the unemployed or committees being joined to put a stop to this Niagara of silver going over the falls, neither backwardness on the part of the people to have a go at the £2OOO for the low price of half-a-crown.

Yet what a host of schemes are now in operation for the purpose of providing the needy unemployed with a Christmas pudding. Also a deal of agony on the part of the church treasurers must be endured to scrape in enough to pay the ministers and run the churches. But no hesitation to go for tlie nuggety ticket at the art union drawing, and only half-a-crown! Of course someone must get it! and my lucky star may be in the ascendant. One never can tell. So here goes for the next. —Yours, etc.,

“THREE H’A’PENCE MORE AND UP GOES THE DONKEY.”