EUCHRE PARTIES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 131, 2 March 1928, Page 8

EUCHRE PARTIES

APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER _,t Telegraph- pms association Christchurch, March 1. A large deputation, including many women, some with children, waited upon the Prime Minister this morning and asked for an alteration in the Gaming Act to legalise progressive euchre parties. ~ , t Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., said that he had never known anyone ruined by progressive euchre, which was an innocent game and was used to raise money for good objects. Mr. W. Harvey, representing school committees, explained that euchre parties were often used to raise money for school needs, such as swimming baths. ~ , Replying, Mr. Coates said that the onlv possible objection, he should think, was whether people should play cards or not. He would refer the matter to the Minister of Justice and to the Attornev-General to investigate the legal position. A Judge in a recent case had had no option but to accept the law as it stood He was pleased that the deputation recognised that One or two points occurred to him It must be considered whether the parties might encourage young people to plav cards for money, though it was quite clear from the statements made that no money was played for There was an entrance fee and money prizes were provided. XV hetlier the position could be met by giving some kind of trophies he could not say. A member of the deputation said that no monev prizes were paid. ■ Mr. Coates: “That point should be emphasised.”