GOLD NUGGET RAFFLES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3001, 20 February 1926, Page 2

GOLD NUGGET RAFFLES.

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STATEMENT BY HON, R. F. BOLLARD.

Recently the Council of Christian Congregations passed, on the motion of' the Rev. J. J. North, the following resolution: — “That in view of magisterial statements, which are borne out by high legal opinion, that art unions, as licensed by the Minister of Internal affairs, are not distinguishable from illegal lotteries, this council urges that the Government should secure a legal opinion as to the art qualities of gold nuggets, with which cupidity’ and wild extravagance are fostered to a dangerous degree, and with which, if the opinions referred to are valid, the law of the land is being broken.” The resolution was brought to the notice of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon, R. P. Bollard, yesterday (says the Dominion). “I do not think,” replied Mr. Bollard, “that the Rev. North, has read Section 42 of the Gaming Act, 1908. Paragraph (1) of that section provides: —If any person being the owner of any painting, drawing, sculpture, or other work of art, or literature, or mineal specimens, or meckauicai models applies to the Minister of Internal Affairs for permission to dispose of the same .by raffle or chance, the said Minister may, if he thinks lit, grant a license‘for that purpose, subject to such conditions and restrictions as lie thinks right to impose.” “it will therefore, be seen,” added Air. Bollard, “that licenses issued for art unions the prizes for which are gold nuggets, are within the statutory provision 1 have quoted.”