THE FRENCH SYSTEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8313, 29 February 1912, Page 6

THE FRENCH SYSTEM.

The lotteries that have hitherto en legalised in France really stood on other ground than do art unions in is country. That is to say, they wore itrary to statute law, but might be thorised by the Government in order .-encourage art, or with a philanropic object. Some four years ago ive was a debate in the French amber on the subject over a question sed by Deputy Menard, who conered that there were too many lot;ies, and that, owing to defective chanism, the charitable objects for Ich they were authorised did not lent as they 'ought. M. Menard ced for a. new law authorising and jnlating ' lotteries, and, abovs all, iitirig the number of tickets. M. knenceau, in reply, said that during

the last three or four years requests for the authorisation of lotteries amounting to some 1,600,00^,000 of francs (£64,000,000) had been made to him, and he had refused 500,000,000 (£20,000,000) of emission. He would gladly accept a legal maximum permitting him to refuse authorisations which it was often difficult not to grant. Apparently, nothing was done at that time in the way of restriction, and now it, has been resolved to completely abolish the system. We shall come to the same conclusion in New Zewini somo day, and it might as well be soon ■>.-* latel