SHOP WINDOW CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22024, 2 February 1935, Page 14

SHOP WINDOW CONTEST

PROSECUTION OP MANAGEK 1| BREACH OF GAMING ACT "CHANCE DECIDING FACTOR" [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday Holding that a breach of the Gaming Act had been committed, Mr. E. Pane. S.M., in a reserved decision given in the Magistrate's Court to-day, convicted John Edwin Goodwin, manager of the tailoring firm of Montague Burton, of commencing a scheme bv which a prize was competed for by mode of chance. Defendant was ordered to pay costs. ''The scheme adopted by the defendant was as follows," said the magistrate. "In his window were displayed 10 suit lengths of different cloths numbered 1 to 10 and the competitor was invited to pick the best quality material. An envelope was prominently displayed in the window and on it was written a statement that it contained the number of the best quality material and that it would be opened in the shop window immediately prior to the drawing." The suit lengths were draped some distance from the window front, continued the magistrate, and competitors had to examine the material from outside the shop window,. They Avere invited to write the number of their choice on a 'paper, together with their name and address, and to enclose it in an envelope marked "competition" and to deliver or post it to defendant. As the entries came in they were placed in a heap in the shop window and were to be opened at random when the competition closed. The competition stated that "the first correct entry opened will be declared the winner and the successful, entrant will receive a seven guinea navy serge suit to measure free." It. was contended by counsel for defendant that this scheme did not come within the Statute, in that tho winner of tho competition obtained the prize by knowledge and judgment and not by chance. Counsel contended that to select the best material know* ledge and judgment were called for and that this was tho deciding factor, Mr. Page said he found himself unable to adopt that view. It might well be that in selecting the correct number knowledge and judgment played a part. That, however, did not decide tho matter. The choice of the correct number merely entitled those that chose it to stand a chance of being declared the winner. The winner was to bo the persoh whose envelope happened to be the one first lifted from the heap and opened. "I think that chance is the sole deciding factor, and that tho prize is awarded b3* a mode of chance." concluded the magistrate. t