ANZAC ART UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 September 1916, Page 8

ANZAC ART UNION

MR M'HARDY REPLIES TO STRICTURES . PALMERSTON N., Sept! 22. In a letter to the press, Mr P. A. M'Hardy explains, in reference to the report of the Internal Affairs Department and the Minister's comment, that the expenses incurred in conducting the art -anion could hardly be regarded as 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 the Anzac Club Committee. The object of starting the art union was to erect a club in' Palmerston as a- central position for soldiers of the Empire. It was not deemed possible or a fair thing to ask the local people to subscribe the whole .mount, and it was decided to hold an art union, that all might have a chance i of contributing Is to what was considered a national scheme. At the outset the committee invited various patriotic societies within reasonable distance of Palmerston North -Ho join in and make the scheme a success, but failed in this object, and had to go alone. It was not quite a fair thing to make comparisons between what 'wh!s done in Dannevirke and the Anzac Ait Union. Dannevirke had a very wealthy conntrv 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 entitled 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. Tbe exDense of the Anzac Art Union. \ outside of advertising and commission on the sale of tickets, was hot excessive. . and had the committee ibeen able to treat advertising and commission as free sifts or donations to the funds, it should, have had a. net return far exceeding expectations.

Mr- M'Hardy assures the public that the Anzac committee worked in a voluntary- manner -with one object—that of making the art union a success. With regard to the "limit ta be placed on legal expenditure, etc.," that naturally was a right and proper course, but it would cut both ways, and misrht 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 .