THE JUBILEE ART UNION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 934, 24 January 1890, Page 22

THE JUBILEE ART UNION.

The action of the Colonial Secretary in revoking the permit given to the promoters of the “ Jubilee Art

Union ” is one which cannot but have a good effect. Although the Gaming and Lotteries Act gives the Government power to allow raffles and art unions, that power was intended by the Legislature to be exercised within circumscribed limits, and it is of the utmost importance that the State should give effect to it with the greatest caution in order to prevent as much as possible anything in the shape of legalised gambling. Although in this case the art union was announced as in aid of the Free Public Library, the Government were undoubtedly wise in stopping it. But as we pointed out attlie time, it would have been better if no permit had been granted in the first instance. Unfortunately, however, the Act is clumsy in itself, and authorises the Colonial Secretary to grant a permit upon application, the responsibility being cast upon the applicants if it subsequently appears that the articles disposed of are not works of art, or that the art union contravenes the law in any way. However that may be, the interests of lhe- proposed free public library are not likely to be ser' ed by monster unions of this kind. And public morality is certain not to be improved by gambling sanctioned by the State. Social ethics as they stand are Ly no means of the immaculate order, and any interference with them should be in the direction of elevation and uot depression. And, besides, the personal element was so very apparent in the ait union proposed. If it'had been purely in the public interest and absolutely patriotic it mk'ht have passed, although all such ways & of raising means for any object whatsoever are far more honoured in the breach than in the observance. If money is wanted for a particular purpose affectijjor the credit of city and people, the latter will, we are sure, respond when called upon. This has been made apparent in the success that has so far attended the efforts to raise the fund requisite for the preliminaries of the Free Library—that is, to make the thing a sound and substantial fact, about which there can he no mistake. Its perfecting will then

fallow in certain and even sequence. To 1

apparently use the Free Library as an excuse for the art union was something very like a subterfuge that ought not to have beguiled the Colonial Secretary’s Department. But praise and credit are due to the Department for having retraced its steps from a false position, and to avoid such mistakes in the future will, we hope, be one of its aims.