The “Missing Word" Competitions.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7071, 17 February 1893, Page 1

The “Missing Word " Competitions.

in reference to the “ missing word ” competitions, the Mercantile and Bankruptcy Gazette of the 9fch February says We can assure our readers that this article is not intended to pave the way for the intr daetiori of anything in the shape of a “missing word ” competition info our columns. Quite apart from the lesson to bo learned by the iate proceedings at Home in the Bow street Police Court and the Court of Chancery, the thing is not in our way. Our business is to give such help as we can towards enabling honest trade to be carried on safely, and it would hardly eon-ist with that to pul temptations in the way of any who may chance to be our readers to try for gains on a basis which, to say the least of it, is far enough removed from the habits of honest trade. For there is no denying it, the missing word " competition is a temptation. It is so simple and apparently so harmless.- It can hardly be necessary for us to explain it at length, but no doubt most of our readers have seen lately in their weekly papers what is called a coupon. This coupon contains a sentence quite complete with tbe exception of one word. Anybody who buys tbe paper oan out out that coupon, fill up the blank with what he thinks is the word that has been left out, and send it to the office of tbe paper In soma cases be is directed to send a shilling with it, the paper undertaking to divide (he aggregate of the shillings thue received am mgst all the coupon senders who make a right guess at the missing word. It is not doubted, we may say in the bygoing, that this undertaking is faithfully kept. Another method is, not to require! bet hilling, hut to offer a definite prise j the proprietois of the paper being in either case satisfied with the increased sale of their paper thus brought about. There can be co doubt that this plan pays the papers which engage in it splendidly, seeing that every person who competes must buy a paper oat of which to out bis coupon. ..... Tbe defence mads for it by Mr Poland Q 0., is admitted to have been most ingenious. He contended that it was not a mere matter of chance—that there was a strong element of skill and mental exercise, which took tbe case out of this category of mere lottery. But this was brushed away by the court in a single sentence The prize is not given to those who send in the best word (which would at all events support the argument) but any word taken at random by the inventor of the puzzle, or selected if at all for its {□appropriateness, and the unlikelihood therefore of its being easily guessed. It is consequently an affair of pure luck, and when the guesser sends in 10 or 20 coupons instead of one, he is simply backing his luck.