ART UNIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1929, Page 7

ART UNIONS

AS AIEANS OF RAISING'" FUNDS. - INTERESTING DISCUSSION. WELLINGTON, June 27. Should money be raised for earthquake re.ief purposes by means of an arc union? '1 Jus is a question which gave rise to an interesting, indeed almost illuminating, discussion oh art unions, past and present—what they ha Ye made or lost and, how they are run—at tho meeting of the Earthquake Relief Fund Committee in the -Payor’s room,.

The subject as raised by Air L. T. AAatkin, who said that if a proper art union with suitable prizes were organised at once be considered there would be no difficult in realising between £20,000 and .£30,000 at 2s 6d a ticket. Air Watkins did not mean works of art when he pointed out that the public were not interested much in pictures, as was shown by the* recent art union for the National Gallery. What they wanted were “alluvial specimens.”

One speaker, Air Roderick Al’Kenzie, said that the only “alluvial specimens” he had seen in connection with these art unions from time to time were glided lumps of lead, but they seemed to serve the purpose as well as the real thing. As a matter of fact he, with all his knowledge ol" ■New Zealand goldfields, and the AVest Coast in particular, did not know where to find these “alluvial specimens.” He had seen none for years, the only collection in existance as far as he was aware were those held by the Manoy family, of Alotueka, who had possessed them lor the last fifty years. Mr Watkins said that lie regardec the thing from a purely businesi point of view. The Oamaru Sporit Clubs had organised an art union ol die kind which had produced £27,15in a period of five weeks. There wai one being promoted at the presenl -ime by the Auckland Aero Club, but he thought that they should lie tilt first in after this long spell, for there was no better object than the one thej were interested in. He moved that tin matter bo considered.

■Captain A H. Alun.ro seconded tin motion. ILe thought it a good channel for the collecting of funds. If he took three lists down to the waterfront—two ordinary lists and one book of tickets in an art union, with “alluvial specimens'’ as prizes— he knew very well which was going to go off best. 11 the art union could be organised or a voluntary basis it would yield a good deal of money for the earthquake relief fund. '

Air J. Aleltzer moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the National Committee which' liad been set up by the Prime Alinister, as that would be the only means of undertaking the thing in a national way. At this stage the Alayor, who had been absent from the room for some ten minutes or so, returned and was informed by Air P. Fraser, AX.Pi, what had transpired during his absence. Air A. D. Bayfiied said it would be -he oest means of settling the matter, for the Prime Alinister would probably refer the matter to the Department ol Internal Affairs, which had in its pos session all the data about art unions which had been held in New Zealand for a long time past. The Departmeni would be able to say that many of the art union efforts had been killed by heavy expenses—that in some case.l- - 40 to 50 per cent of the mone.i had gone that way. The suggestion of Air Aleltzer was a good one. . The chairman: I. want to speak plainly. If the only chance of raising funds for earthquake relief depends on an appeal to the cupidity of the people it shows the sorrowful position we have got into. Air R. Al’Kenzie said lie had no objection to art unions, but he did object to them when 50 per cent of the money went n expenses. If there were to be an art union it shmi'd be a national one controlled by the Government. He pointed out that there would lie no Government subsidy on money raised by means of an art union. In tlie end it was left to the chairman (Air G. A. Troup) to consult with the Prime Alinister on the matter of the proposed art union without the meeting endorsed the propose! or otherwise.