MONEY FOR LOTTERIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 10

MONEY FOR LOTTERIES

CONDUCTION IN DANZIG ASSISTANCE FOR CHARITIES INTERESTS IN THE DOMINION rnv TKLF.GnAI'II—OWN rOUJVESPONDENT] DUNEDIN. Saturday It is possible tlmt large lotteries in aid of New Zealand charities will be conducted overseas by an organisation known as the British International Association, which has recently obtained a concession to hold lotteries in the free city of Danzig, on the Baltic Sea, for a period of 20 years. Such lotteries would be open to subscription only in the Dominion. The company some months ago obtained a concession to mil lotteries in Danzig, which is under the protection of the League of Nations. A New Zealandowned company, British and Foreign Concessions, has an interest in the association, which it represents jn (he Dominion. Some Dunedin capital is invested in the company, and a Dunedin business man is on the directorate. A large lottery is at present being subscribed to assist religious organisations. The major beneficiaries are the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches in Danzig, while tho Y.M.C.A. is also to participate. Tho Lutheran and Catholic Cathedrals, 12th century buildings, arc falling into a stato of disrepair, and a rebuilding fund is being created from tho proceeds of the lottery. Tho association's lotteries are conducted on practically the same basis of prizo distribution as the Irish Free Stato hospital sweepstakes. Rumours of the lotteries have been current, and the probability of applying for a lottery to bo conducted in their interests has already been discussed by some societies. Some of tho lotteries may be restricted to New Zealand subscription alone. This, it is held, will make an appeal and creato an interest in the lottery. A representative of British and Foreign Concessions stated on Saturday that the association, in which his company had money invested, bad it.s beadquarters in Danzig, where the draws were carried out under the supervision of the civic authorities, while the organisation's books were audited in London. No tickets in tho lottery referred to in tho message from Dunedin had found their way to New Zealand, and it was likely that none would be distributed here, .'is the draw was to take place next month. Tickets for future lotteries would probably make their way to the Dominion in the same manner that Irish Free State sweepstakes tickots had become available. If any charitable organisation in New Zealand desired to have a lottery promoted for its benefit in Danzig, with subscription limited to the Dominion, application would require to be made to both the association and to the Danzig authorities. It was probable that such a request would bo granted, but up to the present no application for a lottery had been made by any charitable body here.