ART UNIONS AND POSTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12229, 29 August 1925, Page 5

ART UNIONS AND POSTERS

MR BOLLARD CONGRATULATED BY PRESBYTERIAN DEPUTATION BOOKMAKERS AND TOTALISATOR Tho Minister for Internal Affairs, th© Hon. R.. F. Bollard, was waited on yesterday by a deputation from the Public Questions Committee of the Presbyterian General Assembly and asked to take some action in the way of censoring film pesters. The Rey. Dr. J, Gibb said that he wished to draw the Minister’s attention to the advertising by picture posters of certain film plays. They were simply horrible and a degradation of art. The worst feature about them was that they were salacious. He knew that many people would remark “to the pure all things are pure” but the posters ho complained about were simply stirring up' mud. They were most objectionable, and the Minister must have observed them., They were corrupt even from an aesthetic point of view, and some of them were distinctly immoral. The Minister replied that he had not been in town, hut people Bad brought

the matter under his notice. Steps were being taken to see if they could not suppress tho objectionable features ah.out some of the posters. If it were found necessary to bring in legislation to deal with the matter, he would support it, as such posters, complained of had an effect on children. Surely, remarked the Minister, they could have amusement without pictures being nearly nude; Sometimes the pictures which were displayed outside the theatres were not shown : inside during the screening of the film._ He would ,do his best to stop the display of the objectionable posters. , EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT ,f We have noticed the extraordinary development.” said Dr. Gibb, “of art unionß in Christchurch and Dunedin, and it is quite clear that a check should be put on tho whole thing. W© -appreciate greatly the deliberate stand you took the other day with regard to the control of art unions. As an appreciation of your action the public questions committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church put on record a resolution against the pretentious outburst of gambling under the name of art .unions which is now disgracing the country. The resolution said that tbe _ committee was encouraged by the Minister’s pronouncement to hope that an end would be put to this probably the most insidious of all formß gambling assumes inasmuch as many persons who would have nothing to do with gambling on the racecourse were led astray by it to their personal injury and the harm of the qommonwealth. “We were particularly gratified by your action,” continued Dr. Gibb, “and we want to emphasise that by this insidious form of art union betting, many people who shrink from going to the. racecourse bet on art unions: because it seems to be so decorous and respectable.” Dr Gibb said that he knew many people were seduoed into art unions because it had . been said that art unionß were not gambling. He could auote the old adage, “A rose by any other name would smell as Sweet.” Mr T. C. Brash said that the country was actually being flooded- with art union tickets, and that they were coming to Wellington from all parts of the Dominion, fie himself had received fobr. . Mr Bollard Did you only get four?

Mr Brash: Yes. . .. Mr Bollard: Well, yon ought to see wh«t I get. (Laughter). \ Mr Brash Went on to say , that one lady in Wellington made a profession of selling art union tickets, and they could only presume that she Was getting a remuneration fpr her services. The sale of art’ lAiion tickets had become an mmitigqted nuisance in city offices. Ho said that Mr Bollard and other Ministers had been sounding a warning note on financial questions. There was a growing tendency on the part of young people to make a living easily, and they were tempted into buying these art union tickets in the hope of winning a large sum of money. This was not doing anything for the improvement or the young people. MINISTER’S REPLY In reply, Mr Bollard said it was refreshing to receive a deputation oongratuliting Hm on what he bad done. Mor© often he got the kicks instead of congratulations. He had seen how the art unions wore growing to such an alarming extent and he thought that bo, would have to do something. His attention had been drawn to one art union m. the South I™™ where the prizes amounted to '£3o.000. and on inquiry found that people were living on it. He found that the best thing he could do was to put hit foot down and say thatt there should be no art union held of a greater value than £SOO. The original idea of the art union was to help small snorts clubs whiqh were m financial difficulties, hut the privilege had been abused. Gambling was increasing, ana they must give some small outlet to those who wishesd to have a flutter. He would like to wipe out the bookmakers altogether. Dr. Gibb: And the totalisat'or also I hoee. • . Mr Bollard said that he thought Parliament would not agree to that, but he smilingly remarked that the day might' come when the totalisator would b© wined out. Gambling was a growing evil, and was attaining such proportions that his notion had been necessary. He said that if he found that the £SOO limit was being abused he would cut it down to £250.