Gambler's Dice or Constitutional Wag

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6619, 4 August 1931, Page 6

Gambler's Dice or Constitutional Wag

Financing Hospitals by State Lotteries Minister’s Uncompromising Hostility

tho Palmerston North board had risen to tho occasion and was doing its task in fine manner. Next year, it was to be hoped, would bring better conditions, but there were uo prospects of that to-day. On every New Zealander there was a serious obligation to apply himself to the task ahead and help ultimately to bring about a more prosperous state of affairs. In tho meantime it was being suggested that a State lottery should be establish.- 1 to provide fund’s for hospital work —in other words, the abrogation of constitutional methods for tho gambler’s dice. It had been stated that £2,000,000 had been subscribed in the Iris‘l Free State lottery; but due to the heavy ex - tenses, only £700,000 had been availab.o for the hospitals. In New Zealand the cost of art unions had been very high, ranging from 40 to 59 per cent: and if the people were to throw overboard constitutional methods • of raising funds, easily onc-half of the money forthcoming could be swallowed up in expenses. “If we as a community,” Mr Stallworthy went on, “deliberately countenance or assist in raising money for public utilities ether than by . a constitutional way, wa are helping, even though it may be unconsciously, to break down those fundamental principles of industry and thrift. If we come to rely on the services of others, may be a brother or a sister, or an institution, or the Government, or if we teach our children to rely on others, wo will break down the self-depen-dence of our race and do nothing else than to wreck the Empire to which vc belong. “I am sure that my words will not fall on deaf cars when I appeal to Rutarians to stand by thoso. two great principles —principles that are eternal and on which our grand heritage has been built,” the Minister concluded, amid loud and sustained applause.

After stressing the need for selfreliance and pointing out that industry and thritt were two fundamental principles that could not be disregarded, tho Minister said lie was going to ask Rotarlans for their moral support in regard to opposing any change in the direction that had been suggested for the financing of social services. Certain demands, he proceeded, had been made upon Ministers and upon the Government to do as the gambler did — to stake all on the throw of tho dice. In the Dominion there had been built up social services of which Now Zealanders could bo proud; but, owing to tho strain on tho public purse, grants to hospitals had to be reduced. To the call for economy 98 per cent of the boards had responded magnificently;