ART UNION PROCEEDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1933, Page 2

ART UNION PROCEEDS

REFUSAL BY MINISTER. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 8. Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, made the following statement concerning the allocation of art union money: Rev. L. B. Neale, of Dunedin, tele r phoned me to-day at 4.45 p.m. intimating that he regretted very much, owing to the pressure that his Church generally had brought to hear upon him, that he had been obliged to decline acceptance of the allocation of £3OO for his Company Bay children’s health camp in Dunedin. He stated that in the capacity of a social worker he made the application for monetary assistance from one of the big art unions. In doing so he was under the impression that he was not acting in his capacity as a minister of religion, but as a social worker doing his utmost to relieve distress among the poor. He feaid it was unfortunate, apart from his own views, that declining the money would be tantamount to penalising the poor children who needed body-building food.

“I put the issuo to Mr Neale in this form: ‘I take it your telephone message to me is an official one intimating that in the circumstances, owing to the pressure brought to bear on vou, you are obliged to decline the £300.’

“Mr Neale replied that that was so. He said the Mayor of Dunedin (also a Methodist minister) would 'be writing me submitting an alternative proposal for the distribution of £3OO, but I pointed out that in the terms of the license there could be no alternative. Any moneys not accepted would be carried forward for distribution in connection with further art unions that might be held.”

THE CHURCH’S STAND. COMMENTS BY CHAIRMAN. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Preaching at the Durham Street Methodist Church, Rev. Clarence Eaton, chairman of the North Canterbury Methodist district, spoke concerning Methodist opposition to art unions, and added that it came therefore as a tremendous shock to find the name of one of their ministers, Rev. Leslie B. Neale, associated as a beneficiary in the Easter art union. Mr Neale’s association with.such an enterprise, he said, was inexplicable, and came 'as a surprise and a humiliation to all responsible ministers and laymen of the church. He was pleased to say that Mr Neale thad now definitely stated he would not accept a penny from the Easter art union.