ART UNIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 242, 13 October 1931, Page 8

ART UNIONS

THEIR ABOLITION URGED A baptist deputation. THE MINISTER’S REPLY. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. A deputation from the Baptist Union Conference to-day waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs, urging that the restrictions imposed by the Coates Government on art unions, but since relaxed, should be again enforced. The Rev. Dr. J. J. North said that a large body of sentiment in New Zealand was thoroughly aroused and alarmed by the art unions. No pronouncement had been seen by him regarding the Catholic Church’s attitude, but all of the other churches were very much concerned at the new prevalence given to lotteries. “It is impossible now,” he said, "for any person to walk down the street without noticing the large alteration that has occurred. The streets are besot by sellers of lottery tickets, and one would imagine that one was on the streets of some Spanish or American City instead of a New Zealand city with some English and Puritan tradition behind it. It is obvious on the face of it that the hypocrisy of the movement stands. If the movement was permitted to become well established they would be setting the country at the top of a very slippery slope. The Rev. J. K. Archer said that the cancer art union campaign was being run not by doctors or the Cancer Campaign Committee, but by a group of speculators acting in their own interests. It was being organised by a whole army of people who got good payment out of it and were conducting it purely as a commercial enterprise. 1 Mr. R. A. W’right, M.P., who introduced the deputation: “Isn’t that a hard thing to say?” Pernicious Aspect. Mr. Archer said that it had been admitted by one of the organisers that it was the most pernicious aspect of the art union they had yet seen. People were being caught by the specious plea of saving lifd, whereas the organisers were not worrying about saving lives, but their own commissions. They were violating the law of the country as much as they dared. The Minister (Hon. A. Hamilton), replying, said that he understood there were four more permits allotted and it would take six months to dispose of ( thcm. It appeared inat the Government had no control over the situation until the present promises had been fulfilled, and it was difficult to say what the present Government’s policy would bo on the subject. So far it had not been considered by Cabinet. It was for Cabinet to say, but personally his own inclination was to stiffen up, rather than loosen the law regarding the moral habits of the people. They would have to trust to the good sense of public men at tho head of the Government to do the right thing, but what that action would be time would tell.

Replying to a question, Mr. Hamilton said |hat every art union appeared to be profitable, and very likely the cancer people would get a lot out of theirs. Mr. Archer: Watch the costs. Mr. Hamilton said that he did not know what percentage of the total sum constituted the costs of administration.

The Baptist Union Conference to-day approved the setting up of a home department to encourage family worship. The following resolution regarding arc unions was passed: "The annual conference of the Baptist Union of New Zealand protests unanimously and em phatically against lottery pei'mits wh’.ch the late Government licensed. The conference believes and is in agreement with the verdict -if the British House of Commons, the British Medical Association, and the local Chambers of Commerce-, that the lottery mitnod is economically a wanton extravagance an.i morally a menace. The conference recalls the abuses that have everywhere attended the lottery method, and urges that in the interests of the country the system p: permits should hs cancelled. ’•