STATE LOTTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1939, Page 6

STATE LOTTERY

LABOUR PARTY VIEW

WELLINGTON, April 24. <

There as no support for a State lottery at the Lauour Party Easter conference, says tne Labour paper, the Standard. About 40 affiliations had. sent forward remits suggesting that the Government should be asked to give .serious consideration to the institution of a State lotteery, .or, failing this, that a plebiscite should be taken ofpthe question, hut, when the report oj^th?.conference’s policy committee was presented, no voice was raised in their favour and no one voted for ! them l . |

‘“The Minister of Finance, the Hoft. W. Nash, said there was plenty of evidence of the amount of money that was going out of the couhtry to lotteries, and there was no effective way of stopping it. Of all money sent to a Tasmanian consultation 60 per cent, came back in prizes, Last year it appeared that about £127,000 had gone to Hobart. Proposed Plebiscite However, the exchange control regulations had made is'impossible for tue concern to do anything with the, Nfew Zealand money received. It had had to open a banking account in New Zealand and leave in it the 40 per cent, that did.not go in. prizes. As the money would probably have to stay there for a long time, he understood the concern was considering investing in the Dominion.

A company was canvassing people for half-crowns in (connection with a proposed plebiscite to ask for the passing of a law which the Prime Minister ha puulicly stated he would never pass, added Mr Nash. People who paid their half-crowns could he quite certain they, would never get anything for the investment. Gambling Opposed. . “There is not a 1 shadow of creative activity associated with a lottery or a. gamble,” Mr Nash said.- “Gambling is not in line, with socialist principles. We should be constructing things that are worth while, and laying a basis of solid and unshakable production that will enable our children to grow up free of the ..atmosphere of uncertainty that encourages the gambling instinct.” . - A V- , Mr Nash added that if the remits ’were passed they would have to go into the party’s platform at the next election. It would lose them thousands of votes.

The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Phraser, said suggestions had been made that the proceeds of a State lottery should be devoted to the care of the sick and aged. Fortunately that care was firmly grounded on the rock foundation of taxation. There seemed to be plenty of money about for gambling, and possibly some peop'e might care for consideration to. be given to an extension of art unions for the benefit of such causes as the physical fitness campaign.