STATE LOTTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1932, Page 6

STATE LOTTERY

AUSTRALIAN OPINION. THE GAMBLING SPIRIT. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, June 8; " The fate of one of the Lang Government's creations —-the State lottery—is not only exercising many minds in New South Wales, in the event of the accession to office of the United Australia Party-Country Party alliance, but it is also being watched with even closer interest in the island State of Tasmania, and in Queensland. Little, impecunious Tasmania found itself ever shorter of funds when its world-famed consultation cable in serious competition wi-thn-the late New South Wales Government’s “Temple of Chance,’’which ' has-also made substantial inroads on the- hospital revenue from the Queensland Govci lament’s State lottery. Whether the New South Wales lottery will be abolished was not made clear in the United Australia Party’s policy. To Tasmania and Queensland its abolition would, course, come with a sense oi inexpressible joy, since huge sums which formerly went to them for lottery tickets now remain in New South Wales; but,apart from the ethical attitude of the Churches, it is quite safe to say that that it would be an unwise political move for any Party to wipe out the New South Wales lottery. Many quite estimable citizens in the- Mother. State would like to see it suppressed, but, if a referendum were taken, a majority of the community would be found in in favour of its retention.

Support of Hospitals. .... No one appears to know definitely to what- extent the money raised under the agis of the State, lottery for the 'support of the hospitals has benefited those struggling institutions, but they are getting at least something out of the State gamble, and the fact remains, apart from the ethics of the issue,that they will get considerably less if that money is diverted to the Tasmanian and Queensland consultations. There are those who contend that tile '< money raised through the State lottery comes within the category of tainted gain, and that it cannot be purified even if it goes to the humanitarian cause,.of the hospitals, most of which are iii Queer Street financially. Such people, are entitled, of course, to those beliefs; and to the advocacy of them, but the fact remains average Australian will have his gamble, whe-.* ther it is legal or illegal; and that.. should the lottery be abolished he will indulge his- speculative leanings to Tasmania or Queensland, to the material loss-of New South Wales. *. The impulse to try to get rich quick by the throw of Fortune’s dice is innate in the Australian, Inborn in him also is the love of a gamble, and of these things the politicians, no -matter th^tenets'.''flref not' unmindful;. iTheafej is the fact also, dismissed though it may lie on ethical grounds, that-'the great.bulk of the- pize money* in'’New. South Wales has gone to people who' were,in poor, and -in many cases distressed circumstances.