Churchmen Oppose Premium Bonds

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 14

Churchmen Oppose Premium Bonds

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 4

The incentive savings bonds proposed by the Government have been condemned as a form of gambling by some church spokesmen.

The Rev. J. B. Chambers, of the Congregational Church, said the bonds scheme did not appeal to the better nature of people. “Their actions will be based not so much on a desire to help the country as on a desire to get something out of it,” he said. The president Of the Baptist Union’s public questions committee, Mr E. W. Howse, said there was no doubt that the bond scheme was a form of gambling. “Even from a purely practical point of view I do not think it is a good thing. 1 can think of much better ways a person could invest his money. ' “While it will appeal to some people, I hope they will' not be Baptists,” Mr Howse said.

The chief secretary of the Salvation Army, Colonel A. E. Aleiston, said: “We can only take the same attitude as we do for any form of gambling. We discourage our people from taking part in gambling in any form.” The Bishop of Wellington (the Rt Rev. H. W. Baines) said he had not consulted a representative body and so. could not give an opinion

on behalf of the Church of England. “Personally, though, I hope the scheme will succeed.” be said. “I don’t see any objection in principle to increasing voluntary savings by this means.” It would be another matter if the country’s economy were to be supported entirely by such a method, he said. Father B. E. Tottman said the Roman Catholic Church was not against gambling generally, but realised there were some aspects of gambling which could be dangerous—such as a man spending money which should have been used to support his family. “The incentive bonds scheme is another combined form of lottery and savings scheme,” he said. "If one is legal I don’t see why a combination of the two shouldn’t be.”