The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, August 26, 1915. THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1440, 26 August 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, August 26, 1915. THE GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT.

Wk have received the following copy of a resolution passed by the Taumaranui Patriotic Committee for publication and support “That the Government be asked not to enforce the Gaming and Lotteries Act during the present crisis, so as to enable art unions on a larger scale and with a wider scope of prizes, to be held —always providing the sanction of the controlling body for patriotic funds be obtained —and the proceeds from the art unions are for patriotic purposes only." We do not support the proposal for the reason that we believe there has been too much pandering to the gambling spirit for patriotic purposes throughout the country already. Speaking generally, the funds raised for patriotic purposes by this means comes out of the pockets of those who can ill afford it, while those who can best afford to contribute are not making any sacrifices. Perhaps the wealthy classes are waiting for the proposed war taxation, and will pay under compulsion, and while the poorer people are giving voluntarily and with self-sacrifice, they are lifting the burden, even under taxation, from the money grubbers. No, we don’t support the resolution, and we hope the Government will In future strictly enforce the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Act. [ln Parliament yesterday afternoon the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell), In reply to a question, said that the Government had already given instructions that all those raffles where the proceeds were entirely for patriotic purposes, and which were in progress on August i2th, may be completed, but that no ne -w raffles, unless they complied w j t h the law, would be permitted. The Po’lce Department has been instructed to take action accordingly.]