STATE LOTTERIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23227, 22 December 1938, Page 15

STATE LOTTERIES

Sir, —Your correspondent, Robert J. Peter, in your issue of the 6th inst., seeks indirectly to censure the Government, because of a suggestion hereon by the Minister for Internal Affairs. The accusation of being overtaxed has, to my knowledge, been levelled at every Government in this country from 1870 to date. It would be interesting to republish some of the comments passed in 187(5, when Sir Julius Vogel proposed to borrow a million for immigration and public works. Every European nation has condoned the rape of Abvssynia, that was most veritably an unforgivable crime. Mr. Peter endeavours to classify a state lottery ns criminal, his ethics are of a rigidity that is ill for wise tolerance. Argue as he will it is impossible and may be so for another 20.000 years in the evolution of the human race, to eradicate the, at present, ineradicable urge to gain other than through the channel of hard work and self-denial, all the railings of "spiritual teachers" notwithstanding. 1 claim to be a tolerant man and an nndeviating disciple of moderation in life's affairs and watchful of happenings around me and of the world's affairs. I know that the investment of a small sum, that, in itself, is a selfdenial, for something better in taking a chance in an honestly-conducted lottery, has proven a boon and blessing to many and of no real hardship to the non-winners, The most honest, patient and industrious race in tlie world are the Chinese and it is with warrant alleged they are the greatest gamblers m it. Alchemists sought the philosopher s stone and it is found in "moderation." Many of.the worlds greatest gamblers pose as , 0B