EXPENSIVE ART UNIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18753, 5 January 1923, Page 6

EXPENSIVE ART UNIONS

TROUBLE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. (From Otm Own Corsespondent.) SYDNEY, December 28. 'The New South Wales Government is investigating somejdrange results of art unions held in the State. In one instance it is reported that prizemoney to the amount, of £12,000 was guaranteed. The art union, however, was not a success, and the hospital received only £33 6.s 8d out of proceeds that amounted to £slOl. In another instance tickets wore sold to the value of over £2200, but after paying expenses the venture was said to show a loss of £276, which had to lie made good troin the proceeds of a carnival, the ultimate result, being that the hospitals secured only £4387 out of proceeds amounting to nearly £12.000. Several other instance* are quoted in which the profits have boon very small, showing that the method of raising public money can bo an expensive business. From the beginning of the year the amended Lotteries and Art Union Act ■will bo operative, and it. is announced that it will bo strictly enforced. As tar as the general public is concerned iho most notable alterations will be in respect to sweeps such as Tatiersalls and tbe Golden Casket. The sale of tickets for those sweeps, and the publication of nnv matter concerning them, will bo rigidly prohibited. At the present moment there are men and women all over the city selling tickets for one art union or another. These will now have to disappear from the streets, it is Fkoly that there will be fewer art. unions in the future, as the conditions generally have been tightened up.