ILLEGAL LOTTERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21314, 15 October 1932, Page 14

ILLEGAL LOTTERY

TWO MEN CONCERNED RADIO FOR COSTLEY HOME ONE DEFENDANT FINED £5 The operations of two men who were ptated to be raising funds by an art union to purchase a radio for the Costley Home were described in the Police Court yesterday, when M. K. Douglas and H. F. Lofts appeared on summons on two charges of establishing an unlicensed lottery last month. Both pleaded guilty. "These two men decided to raise funds to obtain a radio for the Costley Home and had tickets and slips printed showing the prizes," said Detective-Sergeant Kelly. The tickets had been distributed to sellers, while it had been agreed that Douglas was to take his- expenses and Lofts a percentage of the sales. No authority had been given by the Minister of Internal Affairs for the lottery, while no permission was given by the authorities at the Costlev Home. "At best., only 32* per cent of the money would go to the inmates of the home," added Mr. Kelly. "It looks as if the lottery was conducted in their own interests." Douglas, who was not represented by counsel, said he was a manufacturing chemist, He had consulted ffle authorities at the home, but not the superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire, while a committee had been formed consisting of a solicitor and two other men. He had thought that as the ticket had been printed in donation form it was "legal. "The three men approached- to serve on the committee refused," said Mr. Kelly. Douglas produced two other art union tickets bearing similar wording. "Give those to Mr. Kelly; he will know what action to take," remarked the magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, Mr. Kelly: We can deal with them later. Mr. Leary, who represented Lofts, said both men had given their'names on the tickets, and there had been no concealment. The men had been advised that the tickets would be legal. Lofts was a respected man who had been a gold assayer, a school teacher and a clerk in the Public Works Department. He drew 12* per cent of the takings, canvassers accounted for 12* per cent, and it was estimated that. 50 per cent in all would remain for the fund, which was a higher proportion than in most art unions. The Kev. Jasper Calder stated 'that ho had known Lofts for 15 years. Defendant had been a constant visitor to the Costley Home, where he read to the aged and blind. "Have T not seen you here previously, Douglas?" asked Mr. Hunt. Defendant stated that he had previously been concerned in a case before the magistrate. "I thought I had seen you before; you were not a manufacturing chemist then," replied the magistrate, who imposed a fine of £5 on Douglas on one charge and convicted and discharged him on .the other. Lofts was convicted and discharged on both counts.