Lottery Profits Grants To Be Published

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29859, 27 June 1962, Page 19

Lottery Profits Grants To Be Published

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 26. “I find it difficult to understand the clamour for the publication of the lists of beneficiaries when there has been no difference in the pattern of distribution of lottery profits during the last 20 years,” the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz) said yesterday. “The only change has been in the amount, increased by the change from art unions to the Golden Kiwi lottery.

“However, in order to ensure that the public will be fully informed on disbursements and the state of the funds, I will publish, early in July, a statement showing all major grants for April, May and June, with a reconciliation of the accounts,’’ said Mr Gotz.

“Suggestions have been made that the distribution of the Golden Kiwi profits has been kept secret. This is not so as they have always been available for perusal by members of Parliament and by the press.” said Mr Gotz. ‘•My reluctance to allow the full list to be published stems from my desire to save individuals and organisations from embarrassment. and to prevent g : ving rise to jealousies which could happen without a study of the circumstances.” he said Recurring Grants

“There are recurring grants paid at half-vearly intervals, to help some 95 organisations, from a list which has built up over 20 years. This amounts to some £34.000 a year. These vary in amount from £25 to £3OOO, the latter to the committee for the Welfare of the Aged, Auckland. All are for charitable and welfare work.

“Next are grants to specific objects, scout dens, sports clubs, mayoral relief funds, old folks’ associations, country community halls, various societies of a community nature. These vary from £5O to £5OO and applications are considered individually, and. in most cases, are proportionate to the degree of self-help. “Then come the bigger grants. Looking through the list covering the last three months I find: Arts Advisory Council £30,000. New Zea-

land Players’ Trust £l5OO Federation of Parents’ Centres £lOOO. Waitemata Athletic Club £ 1000. New Zealand Prisoners' Aid Society £2OOO. Hamilton YW.C.A. £5OOO. New’ Zealand Brass Bands’ Association £3OOO. Otago Museum £lO,OOO, Outward Bound £5OOO, Oamaru Swimming Baths £2OOO, Highland pipe bands £2OOO. Plunket Society £4OOO, Panmure Young Citizens’ Ciub £2500, Olympic Games Association £BOOO. mayoral relief funds £2925 Grants For Cars “No grants are made to individuals other than to crippled people, in employment, who cannot use public transport.” said Mr Gotz. “They are helped to purchase motor-cars only after searching inquiries through the Social Security Department, the Crippled Children Society or the Disabled Citizens’ Society. “In a number of cases, promises of grants are made conditional on the applicants raising a certain amount of money. “From now on. a number of subsidies will be approved for major projects on the basis that I have already announced.” said Mr Gotz “Many of these will not be paid for some considerable time as they are contingent on a major amount of selfhelp and community effort.

“I am certain that no-one. having full knowledge of the facts, would object to any

of the grants made,” said Mr Gotz. “The greatest care is taken to ensure that all profits are used in the widest sense in the interests of all our people and that my officers and I treat them as a trust,” he said. As one instance of how an incorrect interpretation of a grant could be come to. by lack of information, Mr Gotz instanced the payment to the Amateur Emergency Radio Corps of £B9O. Baldly stated, it might be interpreted as assistance to some hobbyists, but. in fact, the money was used in the purchase of equipment being used by the Search and Rescue Organisation. “To avoid possible misconceptions it would be necessary to adduce reasons for each new allocation." he said. “The work involved would not be justified and would be of no news value if released to the press for general dissemination."