ART UNIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1930, Page 1

ART UNIONS.

“DEBAUCHERY” ALLEGED. BY SOUTHLAND MINISTER. (By Telegraph--Per Press Association.) INERCARGILL, June 10. A scathing indictment of art unions was made by the Rev. C. J. Tocker at to-day’s meeting of the Southland Presbytery. Regulations protesting against the licensing of the art unions were carried. “This is a public question. It is public evil,” said Mr Tocker, “about which I can no longer he . silent, and concerning which I hope the voice of the morally—enlightened and concerned part of the community will no longer be silent. At the present time we have one big art union following close upon the heels of another, and all of them seem to lie granted extension of time. Every town has its agents. In this town a prominent firm of public accountants so far,loses its dignity as to take an agency, and a public advertising agent has his stand daily mn the public streets where he may shout his wares in the cans of every passer-by. Eventually the wining numbers are drawn by a method that seems honest enough, and the whole thing is done under the permission of the state, and in particular the Minister of Internal Affairs.” “Where Is the voice of. the Press.” continued Mr Tocker. “ihe press knows that this thing is not ini the public interest. Where then is its vaunted leadership r l lt is silent bought by a big full-page advertisement. The press is a very potent influence nowadays. Its papers go into everv home in the country. It makes public opinion overnight—often with less thought than you and 1 give to our intimation that choir practice will be held next ’Wednesday at 7.30, hut such an opportunity and such a privilege carries with it a vast responsibility. It is very disheartening indeed to find the press is absolutely silent while heavily paid full-page advertisements adorn, or disgrace its pages. 1 will say this: Had the press turned down these advertisments, and had it embarked upon a campaign to oppose those art unions, and to enlighten public opinion concerning their moral nature, then that would have been an act of real moral leadership. I say it is very disturbing indeed to find that our very highly-privileged press is silent, and is profiting vastly by what is nothing less than a nation wide debauching' of the moral sense of the people, to raise lunds that ought either to he raised in a self-respecting wav, or not raised at all.”