STATE LOTTERIES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 3

STATE LOTTERIES

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln Saturday's "Evening Post" S, notice the Hon. G. Witty when speaking on the Address-in-Rfiply advocated the legalising of sweeps. At the presteni time we have good money going out o| this country weekly for lottery tickets (Tattersall's, Golden Casket, Calcutta, ?ui(J Irish sweepstakes), and until we have State lottery in our own country the out* flow of New Zealand money will continue* On the 2nd August last I wrote support* ing a referendum on this issue. The lasfl paragraph reads: "AVhile the Gaming Bill is being discussed in the House, the times is now opportune for a member or mem« bers who are inclined towards State lota teries and reducing taxes to take a de« cided step in the direction of keeping New Zealand money -within the country* and helping to swell the already much* depleted coffers of the State. The monetf from thia source could be utilised for re* during a number in the ranks of th«j unemployed." On the Bth August Mr. Broadfoot gava notice to move an amendment to th«( Gaming Bill to introduce a State lottery. On the 25th September the Gaining Bill was debated in the House. Of the twelva speakers on the Bill, Messrs. Broadfoot; Lysnar, Parry, and Makitanar^, supported the question of lotteries, the other speak* ers confining themselves to the Gaming [Bill. (Note—No speaker appeared againsfi a State lottery.) The Government, while ! aware of the money going out of this country weekly for lottery tickets, makes Ino attempt to get "easy money." It _ia only a. matter of time until we will have a State lottery placed on the Statute Book. By so doing we will not only re» tain the greater proportion of the pres sent outflow but will entice money froiri other countries. If the revenue from! this source was utilised for relieving un* employment, as I suggested in Augusfj last, I venture to say* this would not onlp| pay full award wages, but within a yeal^ a bonus could be added. In reading the published "Art Union^ results I have not yet noticed the total number of tickets sold. The publishing oS a return of tickets sold in the numerous art unions would give a fair indication of the support forthcoming. The jafef Irish sweepsteba has drawn [£2,000,00»p<«f a am, fete* _ _. - , -^ .