STATE LOTTERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21993, 30 June 1933, Page 3

STATE LOTTERY

NEW ZEALAND RUMOUR AGENT IN SYDNEY. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) , . SYDNEY, June 22, Great interest lias been displayed in the announcement by the director of the New South Wales State lottery that the New Zealand Parliament, at its next session, would be asked to approve of legislation for the establishment of a State lottery in the Dominion. The announcement was made after the director had introduced to the crowd assembled to watch a drawing Mr Niel M'Arthur, whom he described as a New Zealand business man who was representing the Dominion Government. He invited Mr M‘Arthur to draw from the barrel the winning marbles. Mr M‘Arthur was received with cheers,' meeting with that cordial reception which ’ Sydney crowds usually give to New Zealanders. The director added that Mr M‘Arthur had been investigating the conduct of the New South Wales lottery, and that he would visit the other * States in which lotteries were conducted.

It is believed that as far as Mr M'Arthu'r was concerned the announcement by the director was a little embarrassing, and that he would have preferred that the remarks should not be reported. It is clear that he was not anxious to advertise his mission, and one reporter said that he was approached by Mr M‘Arthur and asked not to mention New -Zealand’s interest. It is probable, however, that Mr M‘Arthur had overlooked the fact that the proceedings had been broadcast over the sir by at least one Sydney station. In, the circumstances it was not possible to hush the matter up, if that was the desire. The local director later reported that Mr M'Arthur had investigated the procedure at the lottery office and that he had presented credentials that were quite satisfactory in every way.

In a lottery controversy that is proceeding in Australia at the time New Zealand is receiving more than its share of publicity. The New South Wales lottery is meeting with severe, competition from the Queensland State lottery,

where larger prizes are attracting much New South Wales money. The Premier of New South Wales has eet his foot on any proposal to hold larger lotteries in this State, and the returns of the department are suffering accordingly. Whereas for nearly 12 months the New South Wales lotteries filled at the rate of two a week, it is now difficult to fill one a week, and thousands of pounds have been diverted to Queensland, where , the modern hospital for women is to be built with the proceeds. A lottery i, official estimates that between 8000 and 9000 applications are received from New Zealand each week for tickets in the New So.uth Wales lottery, so if New Zealand holds a lottery of its own New South Wales is bound to be affected. .

It is also stated that the offer of ! the promoters of a New Zealand art union of £4OOO worth of gold for 2s is taking hundreds of pounds out of New South Wales each week. Why, it is asked, should the New South Wales Government place restrictions on local art unions when it allows tickets in art unions conducted outside the State to be sold openly? In the circumstances it is clear that the New South Wales Government will find it impossible to abandon the State lottery, as the Premier, seems anxious to do. , h . •