Continual Mammoth Sales Proposed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30741, 4 May 1965, Page 18

Continual Mammoth Sales Proposed

(From Ouk Own Reporter* WELLINGTON, May 3. X proposal by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Seathi to place Mammoth Golden Kiwi lottery tickets continually on sale was briefly discussed at tonights meeting of the Cabinet, but no decision was reached.

Mr Seath wants to avoid the advance sellouts and long queues on the day Mammoth sales officially open. A second hoped-for effect is that continual availability would in a reasonably short time dampen public interest and result in the number of major lotteries a year steadying to perhaps only one or two more than the four it was decided should be held in the year of introduction. The principal considerations are the demand from the public and sellers, the irritation caused those unable to get tickets, and the opposition by certain church groups. Petitions with a total of 14,403 signatures (some 6000 more were added after the petitions were lodged) were presented to Parliament asking the Legislature to desist from promoting the Mammoth Golden Kiwi.

The Petitions Committee had no recommendation to make and, although there was some debate on its report, in which 14 members took part, no division was taken on the committee’s decision. There is no legal limit on the number of Golden Kiwi lotteries of any sort which may be held. The Gaming Amendment Act, 1962, says that every lottery shall be conducted in such manner as the Minister of Internal Arfairs shall think fit and that without limiting this power he may from time to time determine with respect to any lottery the number of tickets therein, the price, the number and amounts of the prizes and the form of the tickets. It was decided to hold four mammoth lotteries in the first 12 months. The first was on sale in July. 1964; and the fourth in April this year. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said on November 7 that there was no evidence that the Mammoths had increased gambling. Previously

a large amount had been spent by New Zealanders on Australian lotteries and it was far better that this money remain in New Zealand. Early in 1954 the Governments of New Zealand and Victoria agreed that New Zealand would receive 10 per cent of all sales of Tattersalls tic. kets in New Zealand in July, 1956, it was announced that the two Governments would share equally in the total duty payable on Tattersails operations in New Zea land. Thus New Zealand\ share increased from 10 per cent (6d a ticket) to 15) per cent.

Since the Golden Kiwi and Mammoths were introduced the New Zealand Govern ment's share of Tattersalls proceeds on New Zealand sales has fallen from £224,711 in the year ended March 31 1961, to £144,965 in 1963-64 When the public accounts for 1964-65 are published, it is expected a further decline will be reported. This reflects the competition of the local lotteries.