RUNNING A LOTTERY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 75, 21 December 1929, Page 8

RUNNING A LOTTERY

MARANUI SURF CLUB OFFENDS Frank Chapman, a representative of the Maranui Surf and Live-Saving Club, was fined £5 and costs in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of promising to dispose of property by a raffle, whereby such property was to be disposed of by chance. Chief-Detective Lopdell said that the charge was brought under section 39 of the Gaming Act. Defendant was a member and one of the executive of the club, which, requiring funds, decided to promote a raffle among members. The lottery, which was for a big Christmas hamper, was therefore illegal. There might have been some difficulty from the point of view of the police, because all the members of the executive would have had to have been charged with running the lottery only for the defendant, who came forward and said that he personally would take the responsibility. • Defendant said that the club wanted to raise funds and for that reason the lottery had been promoted. The club did a public service, but obtained no assistance from the Government or the City Council for doing it. The lottery was only run amongst members of the club. The Magistrate (Mr. E. Page) stated that the offence was regarded as a serious one by the Legislature, because the maximum penalty was fixed at £lOO. Defendant would be fined £5 and costs.