ART UNIONS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 March 1926, Page 10

ART UNIONS.

request for curtailment. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 2;!. A deputation representing the council oi Christian Congregations waited on the Hon. R. F. Rollarcl, Minister of Internal Affairs, asking for the application, as soon as possible, of a limit of £-500 to he fixed ns the prize money-of art, unions. It also suggested that the opinion ol the Attorney-General should be, obtained on the legality of payment of prizes in cash, instead of actual mineral specimen. The speaker referred to the danger to the morals of the community through the development of the gambling spirit. The Rev. Tulloeh Yulle stated that opinions had been obtained by the Council on the law, which was that those organising art unions 0:1 the present system wore breaking the law. lb was also felt that the strict

application of the law would not allow tickets to bo sent through the post. j Mr Bollard replied that art unions ; in which prizes were paid by cheque ; were operating beforo ho assumed j office. In . connection.- with the j Dunedin art union, he found that | ,-t.‘10,000 worth of tickets had been sold, ; tbo expenses amounting to half that j .sum. He saw plainly that they were j going ,to make a sort of TattersalTs i sweep, aiid decided to put his foot ! down. Unfortunately many applica- j tions were in before 1m decided to limit the prizes to £SOO. That was j tile position regarding the art unions ! now in operation. He insisted that , before granting a permit that the gold j dust should he in the possession of p> bank. If he found the £-500 limit abused, he would reduce it by half. Before, the limit was imposed, several applications were in, and as each had j to. wait for the gold dust, of which i there was but £OOOO worth in the Dominion, it would take time to work | oil He would give them till March, i 1027. , I 'The Minister also stated that lio < would prohibit the broadcasting of books of tickets.