HOSPITAL BILLS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 December 1932, Page 2

HOSPITAL BILLS

AUSTRALIA PAYS UP IiY MEANS OF LOTTERY PROFITS. SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE. Sydney, Saturday. Th'e State Government is anxious to give aw'ay £140,000 as soon as the proper people care to take it. The Premier (Mr. Stevens) said yesterday that the hospitals could have the supplementary vote iramediately. "I would like to see this money paid to the traders before Christmas, and all the hospit'al aceounts cleaned up," he added. "The Minister for Health (Mr. Weaver) is taking steps to pay out the money now." Th'e £140,000 represents the amount of the unpaid aecounts of the hospitals. It will be a very definite benefit to hundreds of traders who have been out of their money for isix months or more. • Last ye»ar the (hospitals received £100,000 less than the full xveceipts from the lottery. This year the Government will give the wholej of the profits, but even that, on the present outlook, would not be sufficient to see them tixrough their troubles without further Government as'sistance. The Sunday Sun learns on the highest authority that the suggestion th'at the Government should authorise Mr. Whiddon to run a guinea lottery, from which, it is cl'aimed, the hospitals would benefit by an additional £40,404, is unlikely to be given effect. The Premier is said to have expressed opposition to, the proposal.