N.Z. MONEY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1931, Page 8

N.Z. MONEY

POURS INTO AUSTRALIA

'SYDNEY, July 23

New Zealand money lias begun to pour into New South Wales—and certain it is that Now South Wales needs all the money it can get. Of course New Zealanders are not moved by any pity for the plight of this unhappy State. Every New Zealander who sends 5s 3d expects to take out of the country £SOOO which will be the prize in the first lottery. This week’s mails brought scores of letters from New Zealand, and the majority of them included a postal note. The postal notes were not made payable to anybody in particular, but the banks are always ready to cash them. The Lottery Office waits until it has £IOO of New Zealand money, and at the [present rate of exchange this realises £llß—£lß absolute profit to the New South Wales Government. The lottery officials are making hay while the sun shines, for fear that the time will come when the New Zealand Government will ban participation in the lottery.

What a change lias come over, the state of affairs in New South Wales. The lottery office ( is housed in the great £2,000,000 bank which not many months ago closed its doors. Not so long ago people poured their thousands into numerous savings accounts. Their thousands are still locked up in the institution. Now people are rushing to the same building in their hunt for •-> fortune, their get-rich quick hopes running high. Actually the lottery 'ffice has not yet commenced'business, 'uit it has on hand nearly 20,000 applications for tickets. The other day the police had to control the queue formed by those who wanted to lodge their applications so that they could he certain of being in the first ballot, which will not he drawn for about three weeks. A phenomenal rush is ndv to be expected at the beginning, but in view of the shortage of cash generally it is doubtful whether there can be a draw every 10 days, as planned.

New Zealand is not the only country •epresented in the applications so far cceived; They have come from England; Scotland, the TTnited States, and Canada. Many of the applicants living in distant parts had no idea of the price of the tickets, but forwarded an amount which they hoped would he sufficient. They have displayed remarkable trust in the .lottery officials. Each day this week the lottery mail has filled several suitcases. and the «taff has had such a. busy time that it lias been called upon to' work overtime. It is suggested that it is from this source that Mr Lang has been able to pay civil service salaries tins week. Ostensibly the money is for the hos-