IRISH SWEEPSTAKES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 12

IRISH SWEEPSTAKES

SUBSCRIPTIONS IN BRITAIN OVER £21,000,000/ TO DATE [FROM OrR OWN* CORRESPONDENT] -LONDON, June 23 A question in the House of Commons elicited the statement that on the assumption that the amount subscribed in Great Britain to the sweepstakes promoted by the Hospitals Trust, Limited, Dublin, was proportionate to the prizes known to have been won in this country, the Royal Commission on Lotteries and Betting calculated that up to and including the sweepstake on the last Grand National, a sum of £18,745,000 was subscribed in Great Britain. On the same basis it was estimated that £2,500",000 was subscribed in Great Britain to the sweepstake oil this year's Derby.

The total amount thus subscribed in Great Britain to the nine sweepstakes promoted by the Hospitals Trust, Limited, was approximately £21,200,000.. The amount .won as prizes in Great Britain was approximately £11,330,000. As to the question of the publication by newspapeip of prizes, prizewinners, aild other aids to gambling, that was one of the matters which the Government would consider in tho light of tho recommendations mode in the report of the Royal Commission. The question was asked whether the Government had any power "to prevent crazy British people contributing 'to tho revenues of this defaulting Irish' State ?'* Another member asked if there were any figures to band to show how much of tho amount subscribed was sipont on expenses, how much went to the hospitals, and how much to the revenue of tho Irish Free State. It was stated that this information was not available.