HOW ART UNIONS ARE DRAWN

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 23, 1 December 1939, Page 10

HOW ART UNIONS ARE DRAWN

S promised to one of our West Coast readers recently, here is the official story of how the State Art Unions are drawn: Ticket numbers commence at 1,001 and run through consecutively. Immediately prior to the draw beginning, a sergeant of police, in full view of the public, examines all drawing apparatus and checks the marbles used. Six cylindrical receptacles are used for the marbles. No. 1 receptable contains marbles numbered respectively 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, and so on, according to the number of tickets sold. This double numbering of the first marble allows of a four-figure, five-figure, or six-figure ticket number being drawn. Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 receptacles each contain 10 marbles numbered respectively 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. No. 6 receptacle is a revolving barrel which contains 35 marbles numbered respectively from 1 consecutively up to 35, both inclusive, each of these 35 marbles representing one of the 35 prizes. The 365 fivepound prizes are drawn without the use of the barrel. An invitation is extended from the stage to any six volunteers from among the audience to come on to the stage and assist in the drawing, and one of such volunteers is placed in charge of each of the six marble receptacles. The procedure in producing one marble from each receptacle is for each volunteer to rotate the receptacle for the purpose of mixing the marbles, and then to draw a marble which, after announcement of its number;-is placed in a tray which has coloured divisions, the colours corresponding with the colour of the particular marble drawn and the colour of the receptacle from which it was drawn. This procedure is repeated in respect of each of the first five receptacles until the tray contains one marble out of each receptacle, say, 00, 1, 7, 6, 5, or 0, 1, 4, 8, 5, 2, or 12, 7, 6, 4, 5. Reference to the registers immediately discloses whether that particular ticket has been sold. If unsold, the marbles are returned to their respective receptacles and another set of marbles drawn. If sold, the barrel is revolved and one marble drawn, which represents the prize drawn by that particular ticket-it may be the Ist prize or the 23rd, or any number at all up to 35. An inspector of the Internal Affairs Department checks the marbles in the tray with the numbers announced as each marble is drawn, and the butt, if available, is then produced for inspection by that same Government officer. Satisfied that the number of the butt produced corresponds with the marbles in the tray, the name appearing on the prize-winning butt is then publicly announced. The names, addresses, and ticket numbers of prizewinners are recorded by several clerks and the Government officer. Drawings of art unions are always broadcast by the ZB Stations.