IS ''FIND THE BALL'' CONTEST A GAME OF CHANCE?

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1947, Page 5

IS ''FIND THE BALL'' CONTEST A GAME OF CHANCE?

" * AUCKLAND, July 11. " The legality of the' " fih'd the bajf eontest of whfeh fiVB' have" been cohducted by the Auckland StaT newspaper was chali'eiiged wheh Ne'w Zea- • land* Newspapers' Limi'te'd ahd the phb- \ lisher of the Star, G'uy HafoTd Batg6r, ; were eharge'd under the Ghm'ihg ACl. ; Mr. F. H. Levieh,. S.M.,, rCser'ved his decision. The eontest involved the' publieation of photograpHs of ' play in football matehes in whieh the ball was painted out. Entrants marked with a cross what tliey thought was the position of the ball. Each entry cost si'xpence; The Star newspaper guaranteed a minimhm prize of £100 and 65 per cerif of the" inet entry fee's were paid ih prize money I with the remainder going to the funds •of the' Heihthg'e ofga'nisation. Batger was eharged with publishrng an advertiSe'ment ihviting persons to make bets in- eonneetion with the "missing ball eontest." New Zealand. Newspapers were eharged with aiding ; and abet-ting the a-llegCd offenee. De- , fendants pl'eaded not guilty. The prosecution maintained that the • eontest involved a bet .or wager. Con.stabl'e H. G. Eichardson gave evidence that When interviewed the managlng editor of the Auckland Star, Eric Vernon Duihbletoh, said he had hot regarded the eontests as games of ehange. -They had B6en c'ondueted in Australia (to hi's knowledge in exaetly the' same way. In* this case there was no peeuniary benefit to anyonev exeept the ! prizewinner s' and the Heritage move- . nient. Further, he; would say there was a real and Substantial element of skill required in this eompetition. A know.ledge of football and the tacties, used in' th'e game were* of eonsiderable advantage. ?*• i Cross-examined- by Mr. Tdwle (counsel foi the defenee) Constable Eichard;s"on agreed that the conditions of the •eontest were faithfully carried out. After l'egdl argument as to whether = the eontests in-volved a bet or a wager decision was reserved.