THE RAILWAY ART UNION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 6

THE RAILWAY ART UNION

Sir, —In Saturday's Dominion, Mr. James Wilson, of Turakiua, takes exception to the sale by guards on tho tram between New Plymouth and Wellington of tickets in a so-called art union, and he condemns tho Government for permitting it to be carried on by public servants while on public duty. No doubt hi any of your readers will agree with Mr. Wilson's views as to tha uiidesirabloness 'if lotteries in any form or for any purpose, hut there are probably a still greater number who considr that during war time a good many things are permissible which should not be countenanced under nor. mal - conditions. My own feeling is rather of admiration for the good fellows who put themselves out of tho way to gather in stray shillings for a meritorious cause like tho Wounded Soldiers Fund. But as attention ha s been called through your columns to this "art union promoted by the Railway Patriotic Committee at New Plymouth, I venture to ask that committee what grounds thoy have for describing tho two chief prizes as "Central buildiimsections in Seddon Street, Wanranuf valued at £200 each." Stone's Directory is accepted, as an authority, but the latest edition docs not aopear to contain any reference to a* Seddon Street m AVanganui. It is to he presumed that the committee have satisfied themselves, that the sections exist, that, they may reasonably be offered to the pubho as "central building sections" and that t'hey are worth somewhere near £200 apiece. Thoy might say by i a! ' otDlßlrt s have been valued at £200 each, also what is the Gover»mo^ t valuation. There should be no difficulty in furnishing this information, as the committee doubtless hod to sins ply it to the Minister of Internal Affairs when obtaining liis sanction to the art union. The Taranoki papers have publislicd within the last day or two the expel ionces of a lady who won a 1 horse valued at £5(1, in one of these patriotic i afilos, paid- 245. in charges on it, and then found it no easy matter to sell it for £1. It is to be hoped that tho Railway Committee's effort is not going to fructify on similar lines!—l am, ctc A TICKET HOLDER,

[We have submitted our correspondent's inquiry to the lion, secretary of tho New Plymout'i ltnihvay Patriotic Committee, Mr. W. W. Thomson, who iias kindly supplied the particulars asked for. Mr. Thomson states that as a result of .the satisfactory manner in which his committee promoted several entertainments in aid of the patriotic' funds, Mrs. A. L. Parker, of Fitzroy Street, Now Plymouth, offered to donate to the committee several prizes provided they were disposed of by art union. After mature consideration, and closo inquiries as to the values, etc., the committee decided to pursue t'lie course Tbn unctions uro iu Seddon Street, Aramoho, which is a part of

AVanganui. Mrs. Parker assured the committee that she had refused £200 lor each of the sections some time ago, and as they are the most desirable in that locality, t'no conunitteo saw 110 reason to doubt this. The Government valuation is £81 each, but the committee took the selling value as a fair basis in estimating the value of the art union. *Jlr. Thomson claims that proper caro has been exercised, and that t'lie committee has acted . quit« frankly in endeavouring to give its effort in a good cause an honest, business tone, and to this end the committee h'as spared neither trouble or expense in order to ensure success. Ho adds: "This is, I believe, the first raffle, or art union hold in N.Z. so far in which every penny realised from t.lw sale of tickets goes direct' into tlio National Fund. The money paid for the tickets is really a donation to the fund, with the additional chance of getting a prize." In conclusion, the committee are willing to repurchase our correspondent's ticket should ho make application to the ton. secretary.]