COST OF ART UNIONS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5069, 24 December 1926, Page 4

COST OF ART UNIONS.

WHERE THE PROFITS) GO. SOME INTERESTING FIGURESThe art union fever, which has gripped New Zealand 'for. the last two years, will fade out in a couple of months, as the Minister for Internal Affairs has announced that he will not grant permission for .any further lotteries, when those now on the “market” closed. In t,he early stages Of the, craze substantial sums were subscribed by the public, and in two recent art unions, promoted to .assist the. funds of sporting associations,, after the payment of expenses and prize money, the credit balance amounted ,to something like £20,0'00. Of this sum £lO,OOO will be expended, mostly in labour, in carrying out a comprehensive. scheme o’f improvements to Eden Park, Auckland. That the carrying out of an art union campaign is no small affair is .shown by interesting figures availamble. In one art union, from the time of launching t,o ,the wind-up, just in the vicinity of £l6OO was paid in casual wages, and during the period broadcasting was allowed double the above amount was expended in office I'ajbour, up to 60 girls, and 10 men being employed. Some £l5OO was paid out in postage alone, in addition to which 'each of the branch .offices o’f promoting associations paid out substantial sums. Added to this there was at least a further £lOOO paid by the, public in postage in sending for tickets, while the poundage on postal notes and money-orders, reached a good sum. It is estimated by those in a position to know that from each big itrt union the Government would derive; £4OOO. To 'carry out one campaign over a million envelopes were used, 'and other necessary expenses were incurred in advertising, printing, stationery, office; rents, cartage; etc.