RAFFLES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1443, 7 September 1915, Page 2

RAFFLES.

Tuk Taumanumi Patriotic Society has been agitating local bodies and the press throughout the Dominion to force the Government to set aside the Gaming and lotteries Act for the purpose of legalising rallies, etc., held iu aid of patriotic funds. We previously commented on this matter, and hoped that the Government would not yield to such pressure. The Wellington Post, alter accusing the Minister of Internal Affairs of wavering, hits o2 the position as follows: —“A common argument for the lotteries is : ‘They draw money from people who would not otherwise give.’ This amounts to an assertion that the ‘patriotic’ raffle is one of the most effective ways of taxing the unpatriotic, or the half- or quarter-patriotic, or folk so dull in mind that they need a stimulus of pleasure or possible profit to induce them to do their part for our heroes. Is not a list of five thousand casualties sufficient inducement ? Must New Zealand have lotteries to help the reports from the fighting front ? Is New Zealand content to rest and continue to be frivolous under such a reproach ? When is the torpid national conscience to awaken ? The decencies demand better service for the dead and wounded than the gaieties which cities and towns are taking up in turn. The present scheme may be fairly described thus : ‘ln the midst of death we are in a life of

festivity, with the needs of widows and fatherless children and the wounded as our warrant.’ Happily. the self-respect of Wellington’s City Council has been proof against Taumarunui’s temptation. It would be well to have the public mind turned more to rifles than to rafiles if New Zealand is to have a worthy part in winning the war. The Taunmunui Borough Council’s absurd circular has gone far enough to merit a short and sharp reply from the National Ministry, which should have the courage to do right. Evidently, the phrase “For God and the King’’ —a phrase which can mean as much to atheists as to the adherents of the recognised religions—is losing its force by much repetition. Plain sense and decency are denounced as ‘wowserism,’ a word which seems to ire a dreadin' bogey to the politicians.’’