LEVY OR LOTTERY ?

Grey River Argus, 31 October 1942, Page 2

LEVY OR LOTTERY ?

RAISING PATRIOTIC FUNDS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. A State lottery to augment patriotic funds as suggested by the Welllington Labour Representation ComImittee, is not favoured by the Government, according to advice received by ithe committee from Mr. Parrv. The Minister said he did not think that at the very outside a sum of. more than ten or fifteen thousand pounds would be obtained by such a national art union. This split up among all the Provincial Councils would only be a fragment of what ■they themselves were already securing' by way of their own art unions and raffles. The only way to secure a larger sum than ten or fifteen thousand pounds would be to have a very big prize list, which was undesirable. - INVERCARGILL, Oct. 29. The raising of patriotic funds by taxation Was advocated in a discussion at a meeting of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council to-day. A motion in favour of the proposal received the support of a majority of the delegates present, but others did not consider they were authorised by their zone committees to vote. It was decided to ask such committees to send in their views for the benent of delegates to the annual conference in Wellington next month. Dr. C. H. Gordon (Riverton) said that his zone supported a proposal for a levy on wages. It was believed that a levy of 3d in the £1 would bring in about £1,5000,000. Onlv a few persons were “carrying the baby” in the patriotic effort, said Mr. J. Lewis (Nightcaps). The attitude of too many was: “Win the war, but for God’s sake don’t ask me to help.” The time had arrived when I money should be raised by taxation. I and a levy on salaries or wages would be the most equitable method. Mr. P. L. Hodge asked if the committees had considered who would administer the money if it was raised by taxation. Would a new army of civil servants be created to collect the money

140 YEARS AGO. LLOYDS START PATRIOTIC FUND. The “Universal Magazine” published nearly 140 years -ago in London, records that a memorable instance of zea.l was furnished on the patriotic renewal of the Napoleonic War in 1803. It says: “The subscribers in Lloyd’s Coffee House summoned a meeting of its members to be held on the 20th of July, 1803; the object of which was to enter in a general subscription to reward the exertions of successful Valour, to administer relief to the wounded, and - consolation to the relatives of such brave men as might fall during the present contest. These gentlemen, with a view of setting an example to the United Kingdom and the dependencies immediately subscribed from their own fund the sum of £20,000 three per cent. consolidated annuities; and in addition contributed individually in the most handsome manner. The moment that the public were informed of the proceedings at Lloyds, subscriptions were opened in all parts of the country; every man viemg with each other t 0 increase this fund of national benevolence. The fruit of the patriotic zeal of Lloyds may be found in the volunteer system of the Patriotic Fund. The spirited resolutions which the Patriotic Fund Committee passed at their first meeting, were admirably adapted to second the zeal of their countrymen, and to direct it to an object which should always claim the first rank in the breasts of Englishmen, and which perhaps cannot be better expressed than in the last ot the resolutions to which we have alluded—“ That to animate the efforts of our defenders by sea and land, it is expedient to raise, by the patriotI ism of the community at large, a suitable fund for their comfort and re]ief_for the purpose of assuaging the anruish of their wounds, or palliating, in ‘some- degree, the more weight” misfortune of the loss of limbs—of alleviating the distress of the widow and orphan—of smoothing the brow of sorrow for the fall of dearest relatives, the props of unhappy indigence, or helpless age—and of granting pecuniary rewards or honourable distinction, for' successful exertions of valour or merit.”