Raffle Of Thunderbird Stopped

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31585, 24 January 1968, Page 26

Raffle Of Thunderbird Stopped

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 23. An illegal raffle involving a $7500 1966 Thunderbird car as first prize and a planned gift to Boystown from profits resulted in the conviction of two businessmen under the Gaming Act today.

Mr J. R. Drummond, S.M., fined James Creswell Grierson, aged 42, a company director, and Christopher Drake Mcßae, aged 25, a sales manager. $lBO each. Represented by Mr L. W. Brown, they pleaded guilty to a charge that on December 6, 1967, they commenced a lottery whereby the car was com-

peted for by mode of chance. Senior-Sergeant R. R. Richards said that about November 19 the defendants had discussed the possibility of getting rid of Mcßae’s Thunderbird in a raffle. They had 100 tickets of $lOO each printed. On the evening of the drawing of the raffle they planned to run a Calcutta sweepstake, and also provide free dinner and entertainment for ticket holders. Police Inquiries On December 23, Grierson was interviewed by police and said he had intended to make a gift to Boystown from the profit left after expenses were met. He denied actually selling tickets himself, but admitted that he had suggested to some people that they should buy them. Grierson told police he had arranged for the money to be placed in a $lO,OOO trust account. At the police request,

Grierson stopped the ticket On January 10 this year, Mcßae told police that he wanted $7500 for the car and would have to pay $l7OO duty on that. He understood Grierson was to receive $5O, and estimated that between $BOO and $lOOO profit would go to Boystown. Mcßae had said 12 to 15 tickets had been sold and he had confirmation of about 50 prospective buyers. On the printed raffle ticket the car value was stated at $BOOO with a $2OOO second prize. Both defendants cooperated fully with the police during inquiries. They had not previously appeared before the court. “For Good Cause” Mr Brown said there was not a ready market in New Zealand for Mcßae’s car. Grierson had in fact been an active supporter of Boystown,

a fact which he thought the police accepted. They were probably aware the raffle was illegal, but hoped that they would get away with it because it was for a good cause. All money collected had been refunded. Mr Brown asked that no criminal convictions be entered. Entering convictions, the Magistrate noted that the $2OOO second prize did not appear to leave much profit. He did not question Grierson’s motives, but thought it obvious that Mcßae would benefit by getting rid of a luxury item. The profit that would have been made was certainly not worth the risk they were taking. Many worthy people came before the court after they had had good motives, the Magistrate added, in mentioning recent cases involving convictions of sharebrokers.