STATE LOTTERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20767, 9 January 1931, Page 14

STATE LOTTERIES.

Sir, —There cannot be the slightest doubt that a properly organised national lottery would hold great advantages for the State, and benefit .the general community. Gambling is inherent in the human race, and all the laws of the universe will not stop it. Therefore make the instinct useful in providing the State with ample revenue. A national lottery could be formed by the Government on the following lines:—lssue £1 tickets, divided into eight parts, to the amount of £200,000 every month. The State could take 15 per cent, of the subscriptions for working expenses. This would leave a balance of £170,000 for prizes. Of this amount £IOO,OOO could bo divided in 10 prizes of £IO,OOO, and the remaining £70,000 could be split up in £5 prizes. Instead of paying the ten big prizes in cash, the Government could pay in bonds, redeemable at 21 years, paying per cent, interest for samoThere are several advantages that should attend this State enterprise, namely, cheap money for bonuses, promotion of profitable public works, the saving of tens of thousands of pounds that at present go to Australia and elsewhere out of the Dominion. Incidentally, tens of thousands of pounds would come from abroad to participate in the New Zealand State lottery. Indiscriminate and reckless gambling would gradually disappear aud a more moderate form would take its place when a person could buy a ticket or part of one, as he desired or could afford. The scheme would also provo a more pleasant form of taxation, and from what small knowledge I possess of my fellow brothers and sisters the lottery would bo well subscribed to, for the majority of us, as stated above, liko a little flutter. Quid Pro Quid-

Sir, —I read with much interest the letters re the above, and heartily SU P" port their views. Both "Enthusiastic Supporter" and "Another Supporter ' will no doubt agree with nto that these sweeps should not lie run on the principle of the Irish Sweeps, but the prizes must he limited, say £4OOO to the first prize, £2OOO to the second prize, and £IOOO to the third prize, with a reasonable number ol' small prizes from £IOO down to say £2O The tickets to be no more than ss, and the Government to take say 15 per cent, of the total. On a basis of fifty thousand tickets at 5s each the prizes could he made up as follows, after 15 per cent being deducted by the Government as under: —50,000 tickets at- 5s each. £12,500; less 15 per cent., £1875; leaving a balance of £10,625. This could be divided; —One prize at £4000; one prize at £2000; one prize at £1000; ten prizes of £IOO, £1000; twenty prizes at £SO, £1000; forty-one prizes at £25, £1025; thirty prizes at £2O, £600; total, £10.625. I'm sure these sweepstakes would meet with great support if conducted by the Government, and. they need not be run in connection with any race or races but as a common lottery. The country is in great need of funds so why not givo the above a trial. Another Suitorter.