STATE LOTTERIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 7

STATE LOTTERIES.

FUNDS FOR HOSPITALS. COUNCIL DISCUSSION. The question of State lotteries for the purpose of augmenting public hospital funds was again brought up at the MSffaTvatu County Council meeting, yesterday, by Cr. J. Boyce, who referred to the inadequacy of the Palmerston North Hospital to deal with the continually growing sick list and the overcrowding that as a result took place. In all departments of the Hospital, said the speaker, the accommodation was overtaxed, and it was obvious to him that the ratepayers could not' go on carrying the burden of increasing capital expenditure and maintenance without some assistance. Cr. Boyce went on to refer to the Irish hospital sweepstakes and quoted from a newspaper report of a speech by one of the Irish sweepstake officials wherein it had been said that not only had the indebtedness of the Irish hospitals been wiped out by the sweepstakes, but a fund of £2,000,000 had been established on their liehalf as well. Bv instituting lotteries in New Zealand in a similar capacity the speaker claimed, gambling would not be encouraged or increased as it already existed. All he wanted to do was "to transfer the flow of money out of New Zealand ’ into a State lottery for the benefit of New Zealand hospiThe council unanimously reaffirmed its decision to urge the instituting o State lotteries, and decided to send a circular letter to all the contributing bodies in the Palmerston North Hospital Board’s district suggesting that concerted action lie taken towards the inauguration of State lotteries for the purpose of raising funds for public Hospitals throughout New Zealand. In taking this action the council had in mind the recent statement issued bv (he Palmerston North Hospital Bqatd lhat the sum of £IOO.OOO was requited to bring that institution up to a condition which would enable it to cope frith present day requirements.