PATRIOTIC "ART ONIONS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16010, 31 August 1915, Page 5

PATRIOTIC "ART ONIONS."

', ■ -<». OPENING THE DOOR WIDER. i Permission- to hold an art union in aid i of tiie Belgian Fluids was sought yester- ! (lay by Mr. Robert Burns, Acting-Consul I for Belgium, from the Minister for In- ; ternal Affairs, the Hon. G. W. Russell. | Mr. Burns said the proposal was to open ' the art union after the closing of that of i the Patriotic Association. The Minister ! pointed out that the Department could t not issue permits outside of the provi- ; sions of tho existing law. A proposal j was. however, before the Cabinet in con- ; nection with art unions. He could not : indicate its scope or purport, but, on a ! decision being arrived at by the Cabinet, an announcement would be made. Referring to the same matter in the afternoon, during an address to ladies at the | Town Hall the Minister said that when | the National Government came into I power it was found that the people had j " taken the bit into their mouths," and I were raffling extraor linary things. It j was thereupon decided to allow art unions j for winch tickets had been sold For bonafido patriotic purposes to go on, but that no more should be started. The position therefore, was that be could not grant permits tor raffles as the law stood at present. The suggestion had been made I however, that the Government might open the door a little wider to patriotic , organisations. He could « not say they would do so, but the matter was to be considered.