STATE LOTTERIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23084, 8 July 1938, Page 12

STATE LOTTERIES

FINANCING HOSPITALS SUGGESTION AT CONFERENCE DIVERSITY OF OPINION CONSIDERATION DEFERRED The institution of State lotteries and sweepstakes to finance the public hospitals flf the Dominion in place of the present system of levies upon local bodies was a suggestion considered by last night's conference of local authorities. It was first advanced in the memorandum of the One free Hill Borough Council and was subsequently incorporated in a motion introduced by Mr. K. I l '. Andrews, a member of the C'il v Council.

Mr. Andrews moved that "in view of this necessity for maintaining every facility in the care and treatment of tho sick and needy, it is Ihe opinion of this meeting that the Government illicit consider to its advantage the advisability of providing all the finance required for tho administration and \ maintenance of hospital services by means of State-conducted sweepstakes and lotteries." Tho motion also suggested that a referendum should be taken on tho question at tho general election. Simply a Suggestion "Tho motion is intended to hi; simply a suggestion to the Government," Mr. Andrews stated. At present, large sums were raised by means of the total isator tax without complaint and ho pointed to the manner in which the system of financing hospitals bv State lotteries was applied in Australia. Every year thousands of pounds left New Zealand for the Tnsmanian sweepstakes, he added, and ho had been informed that Now Zealand contributions constituted .'SB per cent of the total. If a referendum were taken, lie felt there would bo an overwhelming majority in favour of tho innovation. "Placing Premium on Gambling"

Opposing tho motion, Mr. J. Guiniven, Mayor of Takapuna, said ho thought such a schcmo would bo placing a premium upon gambling. There was far too much at present and he believed it to bo a wrong precedent. The Mayor of Now Lynn, Mr. A. T. Reimnn, who seconded the motion, said the scheme would be a fit and proper method if it were approved at a referendum of the people. M iss Ellen -Melville, a member of the City Council, expressed the opinion that tho local body representatives should not bo asked to express an opinion on the question without consulting the people with whom they were concerned and the conference unanimously decided to defer further consideration.