SWAMPED WITH LOTTERIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 June 1926, Page 11

SWAMPED WITH LOTTERIES

"A VICIOUS PRINCIPLE" (United Press 4 HB ° c i°- t 'i oa -) AUCKLAND, June 25. fn tiiii Police Court, Wilfred Henry Skcatetj was eW'B e }j personal a fancy 'iieOKlel? to DolceliTO-VVJiiie 'by clla'ilcrf, ami by; tlie sale of a packet containing"n tiiktt from a iiumbu rof packets, Detective Hammond said the town had been literally swamped with lliese lotteries during the past few weeks. Counsel for the defendant said that four other traders had disposed, of stock this way before Skeates had adopted tlie idea, yet no exception was taken. Detective Hammond said there was one, other scheme before Skeates's, in which the Y.W.C.A. was interested. The defendant was fined £lO and costs. Alfred Henry Barrage was charged with selling a surprise packet, and Robert Burns with disposing of toilet soap by chance and by the sale of a packet. Counsel for the defence did not deny that the scheme was'a lottery or that aticket was sold by Burridge, who was one of a syndicate of John Burns and Co.'s employees good cause. It was submitted that Robert Burns, as managing director, was responsible. No one had received any personal benefit, the whole proceeds being appropriated by the Y.W.C.A. MrPoynton dismissed the charge against Burns under section 92 of the Justice of Peace Act. In fining Burridge £1 and costs, ho said: "These causes are becoming a great shelter, for such lotteries. The principle is a vicious one. In future, people who; run these lotteries must be punished more severely."