COUNCIL OF CHURCHES APPLAUDS ACTION OF GOVERNMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 8

COUNCIL OF CHURCHES APPLAUDS ACTION OF GOVERNMENT.

ART UNIONS REGARDED AS “ GRAVE SCANDAL.” “This meeting of the Christchurch Council of Christian Congregations congratulates the New Zealand Government on the stand it has taken in refusing to grant permits for holding art unions on the big scale that has of late become a grave scandal. Tt rejoices at the note of alarm that has been sounded recently in high quarters in regard to the appalling preva- j lence of the gambling habit, and hopes that in every way the Government will j do its* utmost to discountenance it. J That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister.” The above resolution was carried at ; a meeting of the Council of Christian j Congregations last evening on the mo- , tion of the Rev W. J. Williams, seconded by Mr E. W. Hall. Mr Williams said that their usual { procedure when they wished to have anything to do with the Government was to “pitch into it.” They had been quick to point out deficiencies and he was pleased to be able to adopt a new note and speak with approval of what the Government had done, in the hope that the goodwill of the council and similar councils would encourage the Government to go on with the good work. Some of them had read with a good deal of astonishment that the Prime Minister had told the representatives of the Raupo Drainage Board when they suggested a big art union to provide funds for the work of draining a swamp that he would not permit it. Mr Williams added that he was of the opinion that they would be. failing in their duty if they did not join with others in expressing satisfaction with the strong -words of the Prime Minis ter. The latter’s statement had been followed by an announcement by the Minister of Internal Affairs that no more art unions would be permitted on the lines that had been adopted lately. That there was room for the i remarks of Mr Coates they would all ) agree. \ Mr Williams added that they had ali seen Mr Winston Churchill s, proposed betting tax in England. He was very sorry that the Bill had passed through all the stages of the Lower House and . that it was not expected that there f would be strong opposition from the House of Lords. There had been a strong proposal from the Free Churches at Home and there would be some strong feeling if the Bill was passed. He had seen in the papers a statement signed by a number of noble lords, including two who had been Gover-nors-General of the Dominion—Lords Liverpool and Jellicoe —in which they said that they did not know that the imposition of a betting tax would lead to any increase in the amount of beting. Mr Williams 'asked did anyone not know that the tax on betting in New Zealand had increased it?. He then moved the motion The Rev J. F. Coursey said that it was twelve months since the council had warned the Government of the increase in the gambling habit. They were now in the position of “I told you so.” He felt pleased that those responsible for the government of the country had realised the position. He had seen where one of the big art unions had been for a golf club. He played as much golf as anyone in the room, but he paid for it. Tie believed that the law was to be amended so that minerals would be excluded as prizes for art unions. That clause had been abused so much that everyone and everybody who wanted to raise some mone\' tried to run an art union. It was a pity that art unions were not wiped out altogether.

Mr Williams: Hear. hear. Mr Coursey added that he had seen in the papers that it was proposed to run an art union for the Y.M.C.A. in Auckland, but he did’ not believe it. The motion was carried without further discussion