STATE LOTTERY MOOTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 8

STATE LOTTERY MOOTED

ART UNION PROFITS,

RUSH OF APPLICATIONS.

REVENUE FOR GOVERNMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON, Friday.

Art unions and raffles have in recent months become an extremely popular form of raising money for public and semi, public purposes, and the Government has been overwhelmed with applications from societies and clubs from all parts of the Dominion seeking permits for this form of securing funds. It is understood that nearly 90 names were on the Ministerial files when the Government changed over this week, all claiming a first-class reason for the granting of an art anion. The Hon. A. Hamilton's first deputation since becoming Minister of Internal Affairs was an application for an art union. Commenting upon this, he said to-day that four permits had been issued by the former Government and they would not be disposed of until April of next year, while there was a huge waiting list.

Mr. Hamilton himself does not . look with entire favour upon art unions, bat he recognises that a policy question is involved, and he is inclined to the belief that the Government should benefit by securing a larger proportion of revenue from this source than is derived f.t present.

Although official has been revealed, it is rumoured that the Cabinet may be called upon to consider the inauguration of a State lottery, a great number of people considering that in view of the fact that a large amount pf money goes out of the country to outside lotteries annually, no harm could be done by holding a lottery in the Dominion. Views of members of the Cabinet are not known, but the fact that there is a popular belief in this direction has suggested that the Coalition might .consider it as a means of raising muchneeded funds for the impoverished Treasury. I The Budget presented by the Prime Minister in July included a proposal to impose a duty of 10 per cent, on ticket* in art unions " for mineral specimens of a value in excess of £100." ART UNION GRANTED. AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. Advice that a permit had been granted for an art union in which it would benefit was received by the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association at the annual meeting yesterday. The president;, Mr. J. T. F. Mitchell, said the art union would be shared with the Stratford and Winton Associations. The dates allotted were from January 18 to February 27. The Auckland Association was to receive 45 per cent, of the proceeds, and it was estimated that between £SOOO and £6OOO would be netted.