ART UNIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19461, 28 December 1934, Page 7

ART UNIONS.

SMALL PROFITS. FIGURES FOR NEW ’SOUTH WALES. (From a Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Dec. 20. The Premier (Mr Stevens) has made available figures disclosing that of the proceeds of Art Unions drawn in New South Wales between July 1, 1933, and June 30, 1934, only 36 percent. went to the object for which art unions were promoted. There were 32 art unions during the 12 months, and the prizes totalled £28,512. Receipts amounted to £145,908, and expenditure to £92,629, leaving a net profit of only £53,2*9. Ait unions to assist the Trades Hall Building Fund, in which receipts amounted to £1232, showed a profit of only £5. One conclusion that emerged ironi a review of many of the art unions was that in many instances an appeal to the publio was not primarily promoted for the 'benefit of charity. “ It has been suggested that if the Charities Bill is carried into law, the raising of funds for certain hospitals must be discontinued, thus rendering the continuation of hospitals impossible,’’ said the Premier. “The Government is prepared to see that no properly organised hospital suffers. We will guarantee, as we do in casts of all hospitals, -support for legiti-, mate effort. If they come under pro- - visions of the Hospitals Commission, > we will sec that they benefit, as do all other hospitals, similarly circumstanced. Hospitals and charities will not suffer as a result of tills bill, which prohibits lottery share syndicates, conducted for profit.’’