GRAND NATIONAL RAFFLE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1926, Page 1

GRAND NATIONAL RAFFLE

HOW; IT IS DRAWN,

UP-TO-DATE METHODS ADOPTED. SIMPLE AND FAIR PROCESS. In view of the early drawing of the Grand National Raffle, which positively takes plane on April 19th. as stated on the tickets, it will be of interest to read of the method now employed by the important art unions. There is no gainsaying that the system used by several of the earlier art unions was decidedly clumsy. This consisted of putting the large number of butts—scraps of paper-—into a big barrel and drawing a number of butts therefrom. The crudeness of this method was very apparent to the onlookers. The deadweight of paper prevented anything like a hood shake-up taking place when a few revolutions were attempted; at one drawing the nil wieldly barrel persisted in falling off its supports, much to the amusement of the spectators. But to describe the more up-to-date system : DOUBLE-BUTT USED. In the popular Grand National Raffle (the first one to use the double butt, absolutely ensuring participation in the ballot), it must first be explained that all tickets issued are of numbers containing five figures. The lowest, number in eneli letter is 20.000, and the highest is 99,999. Instead of an enormous barrel stuffed with scraps of paper, in the Grand National, numbered marbles are used for the drawing of prices. Simultaneous with a member of committee drawing from a small barrell a marble to denote the number of one of the 239 prizes, another official (or a person from the audience) draws a marble from one of the five hags used for the drawing of the winning numbers. Of those five bags, the one on the loft contains only the numbers 2to 9. Suppose a “2” is drawn, then “2” will bo the first figure of the fivefigun? number to be a prize. From the next- bag (winch contains marbles from 0 to 9) a. marble is drawn, say a From the third bag. say a “0” : from the fourth bag. perhaps a “7”; and thou only the unit remains to be drawn from the last bag to complete the five-figure- number. Suppose a “3” and we have No. 2G073. SIMPLE AND FAIR.

Coincident with the announcing of the full numher and the number of the prize, tho letter of the alphabet is drawn from another hag, thus completing the combination, say, No. 26073 C. A wonderfully simple process, and without doubt the fairest for everyone. ns it is so easy to give each bap a pood shake every time. But what about the immediate announcement of name and address of the winners? The most satisfactory part of the Grand National Baffle is the book-keeping and audit system. Apart from the assurance of the double butt, there is a double cheek on every ticket bought and paid for. The books of record and cash-bolt system (all supplied from hindquarters) used bv the district agents to account for every ticket sold or unsold. As their weekly returns reach headquarters at Oamnru all records are carefully checked, and tabulated by a trained staff under competent supervisors. Thus it is that when a complete number is announced the records show in a moment whether that number of ticket was sold. If it proves to be an unsold ticket the prize is drawn for again. Somebody must get it, of course. TTnder this system, instead of thousands of holders nebeing in the running, ns in tho sera" of paper method. on the evening of April 10th. Ihe magic marbles will respond to the call of those whom fm--Imio lias decided to favour. Someone must get fbe three thousand gold'” guineas.