STATE LOTTERY PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17844, 27 July 1921, Page 8

STATE LOTTERY PROPOSAL.

LABOUR MINISTER'S EXCUSES [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, July 19. Tho Minister for Motherhood in the New South Wales Government, Mr. McGirr, has denied that his proposal for a State, lottoy to finance operations under tho Motherhood Endowmont Bill has been pcrapped, *' Before the Premier, Mr. Storey, went to England,, he definitely undertook that I shood be allowed to introduce a Lottery Bill," said Mr. McGirr. "That Bill is now being prepared. We are confident of being able to raise at least £300,000 by &tate lottery, and possibly with sales abroad we will be able to double that amount, I have had inqjiries from Great [Britain and Asia from prospective buyers pf tickets in the State lottery. "A few critics continue to challenge the lottery on moral grounds, but at the present time lotteries and sweeps exist in a promiscuous way all over the country. It would be far better to co-ordinate these under one head and give tho public some.thing in which thoy would be confident of getting a fair deal. Those sensitive on the matter should remember that custom establishes many practices against which equally valid arguments- have been brought. It must be remembered that Governments get large revenues from trams and trains running to racecourses, where the chief attraction is the betting. Revenue from this source and from tho totalisator is endorsed by all Governments and every section of tho community partakes of the benefits derived from the totalisator revenue of £1,000,000. Then, again, it is bettor to keep the money in cur State instead of it all going to Queensland and Tasmania. " Of course, it is recognised that gambling is not a good thing; but many things now in existence are not good, and the best-thing to do seems to be to control the practice so that it will not be subject to abuse."