THE ART UNION HABIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19203, 17 December 1925, Page 13

THE ART UNION HABIT.

PROMOTION IN SCHOOLS. DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD. VARIED VIEWS OF MEMBERS. " These art unions are becoming a bit of a curse. I have had three sets of tickets sent me to sell from Wanganui," said Mr. G. Brownlee, at a meeting of tho Education Board yesterday. A Member: I had a set sent from Sydney. 1 did not know the sender from the man in tho moon. The discussion resulted from a complaint about an art union promoted in aid of the Northcoto Junior High School Band fund some time ago. The complaint was referred to tho school committee with a request for information, and a reply was received yesterday. The reply stated that tho prizes were three pictures. Very little, if any, school time was occupied in connection with the art union. Tickets were sold by a few of tho brighter pupils. The district was canvassed in much tho same way as for tho sale of concert tickets. Mr. 11. S. W. King said he thought the board should give a general direction that it did not favour the sale of tickets of any kind by children for school purposes. It was not safe for small children to bo going from house to house. Mr. S. B. Sirns said this was getting away from tho point. The real opposition was on the ground that art unions encouraged gambling. Mr. J. P. McPhail: The same thing happens everywhere. Go to any of these fairs or bazaars and the first thing you are asked is to guess the number of beans in a jar. The Chairman, Mr. A. Burns: Ihcy do not guess; they estimate. Mr. A. Banks referred to the cigarette cards which were being collected by the children. It seemed as if they were being wedded to cigarettes. Mr. King explained that no prizes were given for the cards, and some of them were very educational. The discussion lapsed after it had been decided to forward the committee's letter to the person from whom the original complaints were received.