A' RAFFLE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19142, 27 October 1927, Page 3

A' RAFFLE.

PREBBLETON LADIES CHARGED. ' CHARITY EFFORT. In order that the children of Prebbleton might enjoy a Christmas treat, certain ladies in that district inaugurated a raffle by meant of which they hoped to. obtain tEe fuuds for their purpose. ' However, this was considered by the police to be a breach of the Gaming Act, aud the ladies appeared iu the Lower Court yesterdav oi\ charges that they committed a breach of the Act' by commencing a scheme whereby a prize could be won by a game of chance Mr H. P. Lawry., S.M., was on the Bench and Mr C. S.. Thomas appeared for the defendants. Defendants were E. Bennett, Hetty Gallagher, Mary Gallagher, Eliza Hartnell, Edith Kolkman, Millicent Maxey, Lilian Miller, Dora O'Neill, Annie Smith, Patience Taylor, and llebecca Tod. Senior-Sergeant Fitzpatrick stated that defendants resided at Prebbleton, and were nearly all married women. They had had a meeting at which it was resolved that a scheme be started, whereby money might be raised to give a treat for the children, of the district. It was decided that, a dinner, called a Sunday dinner, should be raffled. There were to be twenty books containing twenty tickets, each ticket to be sold at 6d. The raffle had been drawn on September 30th. The butts were placed in a box, and the winning number was drawn by a private individual. The intentions of the ladies had been good, but unfortunately they committed a breach of the Gaming Act. He took the opportunity of warning the public that such practices must cease Mr Thomas: We, appreciate the warning now given after eleven cases are brought before the Court. He- added that defendants were the Mother Christmases of Prebbleton. They had decided to give the children a treat. The dinner was only a small affair. The largest amount that could have been made was £lO. The tickets had been ; sold . among themselves and friends, and the amount taken was £7 or ' £B. These schemes had been carried on in Christchurch for years. Whenever money was wanted for some small charity, those lotteries were held. There was no doubt that they were a breach of the Gaming Act, and that was why they were pleading guilty. There were dozens of such lotteries being' larrted' out "in Christchurch today. The Magistrate: The matter of penalties will be deferred, as there are' several similar cases to be heard. •Mr, Thomas: Will it be long, your Worship?, Some of the defendants, are worrying; a great jea! about the matter. The Magistrate: Thi-y need not appear when the cas?s are called again.