STATE LOTTERIES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1933, Page 8

STATE LOTTERIES

CONSIDERATION IS LIKELY. DURING THE J'JXT SESSION. WELLINGTON, February 28. ; The question of State iotte r ies j, s -like, ly to 'be ‘brought diropGy before -the ! Government eariyfn the August .-session, as there is a growing body of opinion in favour of conduct mg them. Wilde no members of Cabinet or mem ben?, of tlhe Opposition have been questioned ooi the . subject, thirty representatives of the Coalition have approved the idea; , Those who are responsible for f the presentation of the idea, declare that two motives underlie their fi eheme. The first is that a State lottery would do much to increase the revenue of &ae Dominion, and the second is that .ft would divert much of the, money, estimated at, something like £250,000, wldch is sent annually out of. N»w Zealand, for lottery tickets. It hri? been ascertained that within the last 'month over £20,000. has been sent from New Zealand to a, foreign country .for lottery tickets, while there .is a huge sum, sent weekly to Tattersall’s in Tasmania. Much money also has been sent to Ireland for hospital sweepstake tickets. A completes investigation Hi as been made into the New, South Wales .system, which has proved to. be very popular .there, and when the matter is placed 'before the Government, in a few months’ time fu;l-l details, of. the nec.esf sary machinery will accompany the proposal.

j The only reason., for d lay;ug uitfi next session of Parliament is that it is recognised that an effort must be made to conclude the present, session, its continuance giving a disturbing effect on the whole business of the country..

| Many sub®idiary- reasons ! prepared as arguments in. fayp,ur.jbf.,a State lottery, and one of th&se >■»s that if would take money away from bookmakers and divert it into taxable : channels. The. continued, success of art unions, which are, it is claimed, nothing more or less than lotteries, i« also 1 advriwep'd. as an ajimniep/t in favour of 1 the State taking , over the business.