RAFFLES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 54, 21 October 1949, Page 4

RAFFLES

Laws governing the conduct of lotteries and raffles ' which have existed since 1881 are altered substantially by an amendment to the Gaming * Amendment Bill which was circulated, in the House of Representatives during the second reading debate on the bill. In the past lotteries and raffles could only be conducted for works of art or alluvial gold. This restriction is wiped out and replaced by provisions which enable the police to approve small raffles and the Minister of Internal Affairs to approve those involving larger sums. Under this amendment it is proposed that, where a body of persons desires to conduct a raffle for purposes other than private gain, and provided the total prizes are not more than £25 and no individual prize more than £lO, a police permit may be granted under certain conditions Without recourse to the Minister of Internal Affairs, who may issue licenses for raffles for prizes of larger value.

This seems to be a sensible recognition on the part of the Government of a state of aff'.urs that has long existed. It has long been common for all sorts of organisations, and of

the most respectable types, • to conduct illegal raffles for various charitable and public purposes. Quite ' often, probably, without knowing that what they did was not legal. Such official recognition of the innocent amusements of the populace will be a comfort to the lad who feels himself a devil of a fellow when he chips in an illegal sixpence for the benefit of his local Church guild or similar well-intentioned organisation. His feeling of virtue mingled with generosity can now be "quite unshadowed by the feeling that he is flouting the - majesty of the law. There is, moreover, true merit in the move in that it will clear the way for a more or less painless method by which worthy causes can part the public from the hard-earned.