ART UNIONS AND RAFFLES

Southland Times, Issue 17966, 6 March 1917, Page 5

ART UNIONS AND RAFFLES

EVILS ELIMINATED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 4. The Hon. G. W. Russell, interviewed to-day, said:—“l notice that recently there have been some criticisms of the Government with regard to the issue of permits for raffles and art unions for patriotic purposes. It may be pointed out that under the Gaming Act raffles and art unions of works of art, pictures, etc., belonging to or exhibited at art exhibitions have always been allowed. In 1915, when the National Government was formed, there was practically a gambling mania throughout New Zealand. The papers were full of art union advertisments, and the whole thing had gone beyond bounds. Legislation was therefore brought down allowing the Minister for Internal Affairs to issue permits for art unions for patriotic purposes under severe restrictions. It was provided that any prize that was to be art unioned must be absolutely a gift, and the law had been strictly administered on the following lines: — (1), In on case have art union tickets been allowed to be sold under permit outside the provincial district in which the art union originated; and.

(2), The same rule has applied to advertising. As a result the whole matter has been brought under direct control, and the evils which attached to art unions for patriotic purposes have been practically abolished.