AID OF ART UNIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19070, 18 July 1936, Page 7

AID OF ART UNIONS

RELIEF OF DISTRESS FIRST CALL AT PRESENT (Per Press Association.) ' AUCKLAND, last night. A large number of applications for art union' permits by all kinds of societies to enable funds to be raised either to resuscitate their funds or to ensure the'development of their operations was commented upon by the Minister of Internal .Affairs, the Hon. WE. Parry, when replying to a deputation which sought a permit for a sports body. "There is no diminution of these applications," said the Minister. "They are among nearly all mails that come to me daily. Many of the applicants, if not asking for a direct permit, apply for a proportion of the profits of the. £4OOO. alluvial gold art unions.

"The sponsors of applications show a fine zeal in pressing the undoubtei merits of causes which they chain pion, but there must be some stric! regulation of the permits issued," continued the Minister. "That regulation 1 have, from the outset of mj administration, been careful not to deviate from. It is stilj, unfortunately, so necessary for the existence of Mayoral relief funds that the whole 01 the profits of the alluvial gold an unions, with the exception of the surplus kept in hand for allocation in small urgent cases, should be paid over to the various Mayors' funds. My correspondence shows how well that money is dispersed and what splendid help is given in really distressing cases.

"With the knowledge I have of that particular feature of the beueiugiven to the relieving of distress—distress from which there would seem to be no way out—l sometimes fee; that I could congratulate every purchaser of any art union ticket," stat cd the Minister. "My feelings in thiivay are engendered by tue good that is achieved in the allocation of the money raised and are apart from criticism made ,at times against the con tinuarice of art unions for the relief of distress."