STATE LOTTERIES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 85, 4 August 1896, Page 2

STATE LOTTERIES.

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —As your columns are always open for the discussion of matters of interest to the general public, I would like to hear the opinion of yourself and your readers for and against the introduction of a State lottery in our colony. In inviting argument on this subject, I have no doubt that many of your readers are aware that in many parts of the world lotteries are carried on under State supervision—notably Hamburg and in the States of America. In the former place all the tickets bear the Government stamp, and none are genuine without it; the drawing is conducted by State officials, and 5 per cent is deducted from the prize money, which amount pays all expenses and leaves large a surplus. This, I believe, is used for charitable purposes. Every year a number of deserving people get a start in life by the drawing of a lucky number. Can any of your readers give an estimate of the thousands and thousands of pounds sent out of New Zealand alone for Tattersall's consultations, and there are several others. Then there are the Queensland and Hobart estate lotteries. Who reaps the biggest benefit out of these sweeps ? Why the promoters of course. George Adams, the Chief or the King of Sweeps, is a millionaire. Who poured the money into his coffers ? Why the public. Now, might not the New Zealand Government have a bid for the wealth that leave this country ? How many deserving institutions' in the colony would be benefited, and how many hundreds of the unemployed could be given profitable work if the Government could have the distribution of Tattersall's sweeps money sent from New Zealand during the last two years ? No earthly power will prevent certain persons from investing in games of chance. Such being the case, is it not advisable to make these investments a means of creating a fund for endowing hospitals, charitable aid, and other deserving institutions. The investors would have at least the satisfaction of knowing that all the profits did not go into one pocket, and the commission would be spent in deserving works. This would not in any way create a spirit of gambling, but it would be the means of arresting the flow of sweeps money to the sister colonies, from which we get no benefit directly or indirectly.—l am, &e., V Hamburg.