ANZAC ART UNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 3

ANZAC ART UNION.

MR M'HARDY REPLIES TO STRICTURES. [Per Pmtss Association.! PALMBRSTON N... September 23. In a letter to tho Press, Mr P. A. M'Hardy explains, in reference to tho report of the Internal Affairs Department and the Minister's comment, that tho expenses incurred in conducting the art union could hardly bo regarded aa satisfactory, that he was not the promoter of the Anzac Art Union, but that it was organised by a committee of the Patriotic Society, combined with tho Anzac Club committee. The object of starting the art union was to erect a club in Palmerston as a central position for soldiers of tho Empire. It was not deemed possible or a fair thing to ask tho local people to subscribe the whole amount, and it was decided to hold an art union, that all might have a chanco of contributing Is to what was considered a national scheme. At tho outset the committee invited various patriotic societies withii'i_ reasonable' distance of Palmerston North to join in and mako tho scheme a success, but failed in this object, and bad to go alono. It was not quite a fair thing to mako comparisons between what was done in Danno'irke and the Anzac Art Union. Daunevirke had a very wealthy country to draw upon, whereas Palmerston North could 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 Dannevirke Society was certainly ontitled to all praise for its efforts, but Palmerston North, with its limited area, had no chance in such a competition. It had to rely on outside support. Tho expense of tho Ansae Art Union, outside of advertising and commission on the salo of tickets, was not excessive, and had the committee been able to treat advertising and commission as free gifts or donations to iho funds, it should have had a net return far exceeding expectations. Mr M'Hardy assures the public that the Anzac committeo worksd in a voluntary mannor with one object—that of making the art union a success. With regard to iho "limit to be placed on legal expenditure, etc.," that naturally was a right and proper course, hut it would cut both ways, and might prevent many desirable projects from being carried out._ In the meantime there was no," limit "to the hardships and endurance of soldiers at the front.