ANZAC ART UNION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 11

ANZAC ART UNION

QUESHON OF EXPENSES

,MR. M'HARDY REPUIES ,TO CRITICISM. By, Telegraph—Press Association, Palmerston North, Sept. 22. Li a letter to the Press, Mr. P. A. M'Hafdy oxplains in reference to the report of tho Internal Affairs Doj?artm<yit and the Minister's coniniem that Tie was not tho promoter of the Anzac Art Union, but tho committee of tho Patriotio Society combined with the Anzac Club committee with the object of starting tho "art union to oroct,, a club in Palmorston, as a central position for soldiers of tho Empire. It was not deemed possible or a inir thing to ask tho local people to subscribo tho wjiate amount, and they decided on an art union that all might have a chance of contributing- Is. to what was considered a national scheme. At the outset tho_ ciinmittee; invited, various patriotic societies within a reasonable distance of Palmerston'' North to join in making ._, the scheme a success, but failed in this object and had to go alone. It was not quit© a- thing to make comparisons between what was done at Dannevirko and the Auzao Art Union. Dannevirko has a very wealthy country to draw; from, a radius all around of many miles—to ' the east over 60 miles of tho richest' country in New Zoaland, whereas Palmerston North can only go five or six, miles before overlapping some other patriotic ' institution. It was quite an easy matter in a wealthy community to obtain donations towards a deserving object, and so show a magnificent result; The Dannevirko Society was certainly ontitled to all praise for its efforts, hut Palmerston North, with a limited area, had no chance, in such competition, and had to rely on outside support; The expenses of tho Anzac Art Union, outside of advertising and commission on sale of tickets, were not excessive, and had tho committee 'been able io treat advertising aud commission as free gifts or donations to the funds, they would have had a net return far exceeding expectations. Mr. M'iJardy assures the public'that.the Anzac Committee worked in a voluntary manner with the one object of making the art union a success, and with fairness to all who offered .support. With regard to "limit plac-. Ed, on legal expenditure, -etc," that was naturally a.' right and proper course, but it will cut both ways, aud may prevent many desirabls projects being carried out. ' In the meantime thero is no "limit" to the hardship and endurance, of- our soldier sons at the front. vpARTICULARC OF EXPENSES. WELLINGTON EEPRESENTATIVE GIVES FIGURES. The Wellington rhopresen'tetive of the art union union, discussing the matter with a Dominion representative, supplied particulars of some of the expenses incurred. •■' "In the first place as to tho amount paid for commission,~\Gll63. In this' connection the Anzao Art Union paid the same commission as other leading art unions 'have paid; and less than the. Southland Art Union, which was ong.of the best managed and the most successful yet held in New Zealand, realising over £26,000. Then there is an item, printing: and stationery, £488. I '.purchasetl more than a gutter of a million envelopes for tho art union, •and these are still on'hand. When sold the amount for'printing and stationery will ba greatly reduced. As to the cost of advertising, £1467, a month before- the close of the art union I ask-, ed the committee at Palmerston North to get som'eone else to do tho advertising. In the absence of Mr. M'Bardy, ■the acting ohairman, a gentleman with no office training, wrote to an advertising agent and bungled the instructions, with the result that full-pago advertisements were put in all leading papers in New Zealand. This was against Ministerial' permission, and Mr. Russell made Mr. M'Hardy telegraph a lengthy -apology to. be inserted in each paper for the' advertisement having' appeared. Thero was an increaso of exl.penses of about £600 over this mistake. When I. saw" the hole the eommitFeo was in I resumed the advertising and stayed to the end.' ■ ' "I asked the Minister when he granted the permit to fix a limit on expenditure—not to allow expenditure to exceed 10 per cent, of takihgs. He would not do'so. When Mr. M'Hardy and myself ! interviewed ■ Sir J.. G. Ward in reference to the art. union ; I again asked that a 10 per'cent.'limit of the takings be placed on.the expenditure. Sir Joseph agreed that 10 per cenU. for ex-penditure-was reasonable, but the Minister of Internal Affairs refused to accept my suggestion."