STATE LOTTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1932, Page 8

STATE LOTTERY

DIRECTOR CHECKED BY PREMIER

MUST SECURE PERMISSION

SYDNEY, August 19. lor some time past it has been a matter of common knowlegde that thq late of the State lotteries is ijiuthe balance. 1

Mr Weaver, the Minister in charge, is reluctant to surrender the large revenue derived for the hospitals from the lotteries; and, in fact, lie has already explained at length the extensions of public service for the. poor and needy that would be made possible tins year by these contributions., , But the Premier, Mr SteveiiSj has always condemned the lottery, both on economic and moral grounds, and he has the support (at least in modified form) of the “Sydney Morning Herald,” and several influential members of the Cabinet. On the other hand, Mr Weaver can count upon strong t Ministerial backing, and lie lias stood up manfully for his view of the.’ case against the attacks of the Bishop o Newcastle and other prominent church-' men. On the whole it seemed, reason able to expect some form of com promise, enabling the lotteries tp, bet' maintained for a time, but preventing their enlargement and extension, abdindicating .the, probability of their' abolition. ■:

This week, however; matters have been brought to a crisis by; the remark-; able indiscretion of tlip director hi State lotteries. Mr Whiddon.. was, dfic of Mr Lang’s appointees, and for various reasons he thas not. jsommendf d himself to members of the new Cabinet. A few days ago, he took tjie extraordinary, step of protesting through the public Press against what he termed the “irritation tactics” of Mr Stevens, alleging that the Premier was doing everything, in his power to embarrass him in the discharge of his duties and to obstruct the lotteries. As a.matter of fact,. Mr Whjddou had - already announced public ly that he meant to increase the, price, , for lottery tickets, and the number and amount of the prizes; also that he contemplated organising lotteries on a. stilt larger scale:j with higher,; prizes running £20,000. But all this had apparently beep done on his.-uwn responsibility, and the imperious and dictatorial tone which Mr- Whiddon saw fit to adopt was .not likely to conciliate the offended Ministers -

The director of-lotteries, was projript-r l y brought to book •, by the Premier, who sent him a letter fo-rbiddirig him to take any, such steps, as he contemplated in regard to the extension .of the lotteriesi or .even, to adyertike, with out securing permission, and notifying him, that in future the. lotteries can be conducted only .“with the approval in writing oft the Colonial Mr. Wliiddon, who apparently; -believed that he was, in his own - sphere, omnipotent,; has.been. compelled- to submit to conditions yv’hich. as he. di.si gustedly says, forbid Kim to toll aJVVr pne the time without consulting Mr Stpyens, Under the Lotteries Act, Mr Whiddon's services cannot, be dispensed with except for “irusbehaviotir or incompetence” without a resolution for his dismissal .carried by both Houses of Parliament. But it,, was in,evitahle that this controversy should prejudice Mr Stevens still further against the whole system,, and his hostility is reflected in the steps that he has' now .taken. ,The lotteries are .to stand for the time, hut their limitation along, the lines already indicated by Mi 1 Stevens wnl mean that they will ,brin_, in about £200,090. less than wasantiripated during the year.. As the, actual net profit on the 77 lotteries already drawn amounts to nearly £BOO,OOO, tbi? is evidently a source of income that the Government cannot afford to reject altogether; but Mr Weaver will need to devise other expedients to make up the deficit. . r "'' '