MONEY BY LOTTERY.

Shannon News, 10 July 1928, Page 2

MONEY BY LOTTERY.

PROPOSAL BY FARMERS’ UNION DELEGATE. TO PAY FOR HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION/ A novel proposal was mooted at the meeting of the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, in Levin on Saturday, when the Waikanae representative, Mr J. T. Kent, gave notice that he would move at the next meeting, That, o-wing to the heavy expenditure by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards, ■the Government be asked to run four “sweeps” in New Zealand each year for the above benefit, so as to relieve the ratepayers of the Dominion froji ever-increasing taxation. Mr Kent drew attention to success attained by Tattersall’s sweeps in Tasmania, where they had solved a financial problem. He said that there was so much unemployment Jnow in New Zealand that there was no telling where charitable aid rates would end. By the inauguration of national sweepstakes a large amount of money would be raised, resulting in a saving to the ratepayers. Mr Maul: Where would the money come from? You would be taking it from one pocket and putting it in another.

Mr Kent: A lot of those who don’t pay rates now would pay then. The chairman (Mr Lynch) said that the hospital rates were becoming appalling. According to returns obtained by the Mayor of Masterton, the hospital rates in Wairarapa had increased by 500 per eent. in the last 14 years. It had been said that in Wellington the rates had been swelled by the amount of charitable aid; but what about the palatial premises that 4 had been erected by the Wellington Hospital Board? The new administrative block was big enough to serve the whole of New Zealand. In the last three years the speaker’s hospital rates had inei eased over 100 per cent.

Mr Maul: Disease is increasing in proportion to the population, and more beds Ind rooms are required. Mr Bond pointed out that the costs of new hospital buildings were high because they were being erected in brick and concrete. The old wooden buildings were of a temporary nature, but the new buildings would manent.

The Chairman: Until, they take anQther turn and pul) them down again.