PERMITS FOR LOTTERIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 105, 15 April 1933, Page 8

PERMITS FOR LOTTERIES

DEPUTATION’S PROTEST TO MINISTER. PUBLIC’S DESIRE TO GAMBLE AUCKLAND, April 13. Strong protests at the granting of permits to hold lotteries were made to the Hon. A. J. Young by a deputation of citizens, including Archbishop ANerill and Dr J. J. North, president of the Council of Christian Congregations. In replying the Minister said he was glad to bear the expression of views on an important matter of great social interest to the community. While the deputation represented a volume of public opinion, he said, what had been impressing him greatly was the tremendous following of public opinion that was out to get the opportunity to participate in art unions. During the last week of the session he had an average of eight applications for art unions daily, representing different interests. That went on all the time and they could see how widespread was the desire to hold art unions. Regarding the depots for selling tickets on the main streets, this was largely a matter for regulation by the municipal authorities and not the Government. There was a wide feeling that the community wanted to gamble and would gamble. It had been urged that if there was a large lottery in the Dominion, money would not go away to foreign lotteries. He was not of that opinion, but ho believed there was such a great desire to gamble that it was better that the Government should control and regulate it to ensure that those who invested in the lotteries would have a clean run. The Minister suggested that there was a field for work for the deputation to do in carrying on propaganda. If the deputation could create a strong volume <>f public opinion in favour of their ' iews he wished them every success. Tremendous pressure came to al] public men to countenance schemes in addition to those already allowed and he had a deputation that day advocating opposition of this deputation's views.