REFUSAL TO ACCEPT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 227, 24 April 1933, Page 3

REFUSAL TO ACCEPT

Art Union Objected To

OFFER TURNED DOWN

Auckland, April 21.— Following ;i. report (hat. it was intended to provide a maximum sum of £SOO from the proceeds of the Great Easter art union to the Auckland Community Sunshine Association, the executive of the organisation has decided against accepting any funds raised by means of art unions. An official of the association stated the decision had been made purely as a matter of principle. There was no hostility to the purpose of the Government, which was undoubtedly intended in the best spirit. The association was asked by the Government whether it would care to participate in any proceeds from an art union. A telegram was then forwarded to the Government asking if the matter could be deferred until a meeting of the executive.

■ Before the date of the executive meet- | ing the Minister made an announcement | through the newspapers that sums would be made available. Since then no offiIcial notification has been received. 1 "The executive naturally considered the position very seriously," the official continued. "We have no money to carry on cur health camps at Motuihi Island but we felt the children of Auckland, and New Zealand for that matter, were worthy of direct giving. We felt the children were being penalised by the holding of art unions. Our opinion is that people supporting art unions are the poorer people. In the hope of securing a substantial prize they purchased these 2s 6d tickets and their children arc sufferers as a consequence.

"The executive decided not to accept money from the art union on the principle that the whole position is like having an ambulance at the foot of a cli'T instead of a fence at the top. We do not want to give approval of art unions. The work we do is worthy of direct support."