ART UNION PROFITS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 6

ART UNION PROFITS

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Under the very suitable heading, art union profits, the following astounding balance-sheet appeared in a recent issue of your journal: —Bal-ance-sheet of ten national art unions conducted in New Zealand last year: Gross sales, £177,788; commission, £26,362; expenses, £28,762; prizes, £39,500; lottery duty, £17,778; nett profits, for distribution, £65,384. In the first place, the outgoings, according to the figures, do not compare with the gross sales by £2, but let us examine the whole affair, and see how the public emerge from the deal. I think it positively scandalous, and the greatest illustration of the tail wagging the dog that has ever come under my notice. Out of a total of £177,788 subscribed by the public, they receive a paltry £39,500 in prizes; £26,362 commission, and lottery duty, £17,778 having been paid, we have expenses, £28,762. What on earth swallows that huge amount up? The sum of £65,384 then remains for distribution, and of that £38,000 for the relief of distress; no doubt desirable, but unnecessary if the unemployment funds were properly applied. This money could be devoted to hospitals. The public who find the money are certainly entitled to more prize money than what they are getting. —I am, etc., W. F. CUTLER. 39 Ada Street, Palmerston North.