RAFFLES FOR CHARITIES

Chronicle (Levin), 28 April 1947, Page 4

RAFFLES FOR CHARITIES

-Press Association

Catholic Church's Petition To Commission

By TeleararnC-

NAPIER, April 28. "Nowhere does the law of God forbid gambhng, provided no fraua, deceir or injusrice enters into it," said Rev. v Father O. H. Seymour, S.M., speaking before the Gaming Commission today in support of a petition seeking relief from certain iestrictions on raffles and games organised for the benefit of bona fide charities. "We have our own money and we can choose to renounce our possession of it in exchange for a lawful chance prize," said Father Seymour. There was, .he added, no justification for forbidding all such pleasures by law. The principal concern of the promoters of the petition was the financing of the heavy burden of Catholic schools. The Catholic people paid rates. and taxes and in addition financed the whole cost of ^building, equipping and teaching in the Catholic schools throughout the Dominion. The Catholic schools saved the Government, at a low estimate, £400,000 a year. Father Seymour, who said the petition was presented with the approval of Archbishop O'Shea, asked that the Minister of Internal Affairs be empowered to grant a permit for raffles, art unions and r:ames for bona fide charitable and educational purposes. In reply to Mr; Justice Finlay, Father Seymour said that ethically there was no wrong in gambling, but certain forms of gambling might be conducive to public injury and these ahould be restricted. To a further question by Mr. Justice Finlay, Father Seymour said that if the church received State aid for its schools.. it would not be asking for permission to hold raffles. Mr. Justice Finlay : You would rather have State aid than raffles? Father Seymour: A thousand times, Sir. *