A MYSTERY OF MORALITY

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 76, 28 September 1915, Page 6

A MYSTERY OF MORALITY

♦ ■ "All things are relative ; there is no absolute standard," says the famiKar preacher of platitudes, and if his audience stays he. goes ion to speak of "questions of degree," "conventions," "different morality in different countries," and the like. Such a philosopher has a very interesting psychological study in New Zealand at present. After oscillating between two groups of New Zealanders, after the manner of an uncertain electric current between two poles, the Minister of Internal Affairs has made up his mind on a peculiar "criss-cross" pattern, which seems to represent fairly the chequered mind of the National Ministry in the matter of raffles, "art unions," and other lotteries. On this shaky ground the National Government appears to be reflected in Mr. Russell, who is ewaying in Ihe conflicting winds of "public opinion." The Minister has been blown from one horn of a dilemma to another, but at last he has found cover, which he hopes will be comfortable, under the broad canopy of patriotism. Mr. Russell has introduced the Gaming Amendment Bill, which is to legalise lotteries, if they are promoted for "purely patriotic purposes." What is the poor layman to deduce from thie? This doc trine implies that a high end justifies lowly means, even to the lottery. The higher the motive, the better the claim which the lottery has to legality! If the argument is shifted — as it logically can be — from this terrestrial world to another Kingdom, the lottery may be an act of piety and grace, according to New Zealand's Gaming Act Amendment Bill. By this reasoning, based on Mr. RusselPs Bill, the State-sanctioned '*tote," in certain circumstances — cay, a race-day for the wounded and the chriftren of the killed — can take on an odour of sanctity and radiate a dim Kghfe-of holiness*