ART-UNION PERMITS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 704, 2 July 1929, Page 16

ART-UNION PERMITS

GOVERNMENT LIFTS BAN FUNDS FOR AERO CLUB (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Today. Despite the prohibition which has lasted for two years or more the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, has authorised the conducting of art unions by the Auckland Aero Club and the Southland Rugby Union in aid of their respective funds. The question of granting further permits will be considered later. In a deputation from the Wellington Aero Club, which waited upon Mr. Perrelle this evening, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, chief spokesman, pointed out that the club had the support of a large body of citizens. The “Evening Post” had promised an airplane at a cost of £BSO, and tentative promises had been made for enough money to get the club going. Sufficient money was required, however, to have a reserve to ensure that the finances were thoroughly sound. The Auckland Aero Club had been granted permission to run an art union, and similar permission was sought in respect of the Wellington Aero Club. The Minister replied that the Government had given careful consideration to the question of art unions, and it had been decided that only two should be granted throughout New Zealand, that was one for the Southland Rugby Union and the other for the Auckland Aero Club. He advised the Wellington Aero Club to lodge its application immediately in order that the matter might be considered in plenty of time for the ensuing period of six months. It might be that if the conditions, in respect of which the two art unions for which permission had already been granted, were scrupulously observed, that permission might be given for an increase in the number of art unions to be granted during the second half of the year. He appreciated the importance of aero clubs from commerce and defence points of view. However, the request of the deputation was one upon which he could not give an immediate answer, and the question as to whether the Auckland Aero Club should join up with the Wellington Aero Club ana have one art union for the North Island was one that would have to be considered by the Government.

Great care had to be exercised in permitting art unions to be run, as abuses had occurred in the past. The Government had a number of applications before it, and he suggested to the deputation that it should put in its application.