LOTTERIES FOR HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 12

LOTTERIES FOR HOSPITALS

CRITICISM OF ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT

"HAVE BEEN COWARDS IN NOT TACKLING PROBLEM"

[THE PUESS Special Service.] WESTPORT, December 20. "The present Government and past Governments have been cowards in not tackling gaming legislation in this country," said Mr W. R. Simpson, at a meeting of the Buller Hospital Board this evening. He was speaking on a remit to the hospital boards' conference on legislation permitting sweepstakes or lotteries in aid of hospitals in New Zealand, the same as was adopted in other countries. Mr Simpson said that he had brought the matter up previously, and intended to do so again. He considered the position in New Zealand now was ridiculous, with those thousands of people who fancied a gamble being made to look like hypocrites. "Gambling is more rife to-day in the Dominion than it has ever been, and none of the country's administrators are game enough to tackle the question of its control or modification," he said. "The people arefl being kept from gambling on racing and other things, which, if taxed, would keep all the hospitals in the land going." Mr Simpson said it was amusing to see the authorities talking about dealing with the rat bettor, whom he claimed only dealt in shillings, while big men were left untaxed. "There is not one member of this board and only one or two members of Parliament, who do not gamble on something or other, and gambling will go on whatever happens," he concluded. Mr W. P. Caldwell, after saying that the Irish hospital system had been built up on state lotteries, expressed confidence that the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) would make an attempt to introduce the desired legislation. Mr T. Niven: And he will fail. Mr E. R. Pox said that remits supporting a State lottery had been defeated on two previous occasions. He said it was unfair to think that a New Zealander who bought a lottery ticket could be classed as a law breaker. The chairman promised to support such a remit if introduced at the conference.