THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 5

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

TO THE EDITOR. Si£,—That shining light of Christian example, the Council of Christian Churches, and the lessef luminary, the Council of the Otago Christian Endeavour Union, have sat in solemn conclave to deliberate upon the methods being used by the promoters to raise funds for the Queen Carnival. They have characterised, these methods as " deplorable," in that they engender a " gambling spirit," which is "essentially anti-Christian, anti-social, anti-ecouomic, saps the character, and must do irretrievable harm to the moral life of our community, and especially that of the young people." I wonder what those people who have bought tickets in the various raffles will think of themselves now? It should be perfectly .clear to them, in * the , face of this unanimous, decision of great theological experts who are supposed to know their business, that their' "offence is rank . . . it smells to heaven." Yet how many of them, think you, will lose any sleep over it? Surely, for the great majority of our decent, sane citizens, this sort of humbug has only its humorous aspect. The Council of. . Christian Churches cannot expect such pedantry to be taken seriously, and when it is; recollected that only the really needy, ones in our midst are going to bepefit from such "wickedness," surely it would be better if it, and kindred bodies, main- j tained n discreet silence." , '

Further, it is rumoured that owing to complaints lodged by the same body, the organisers of the raffles for the motor cars may be haled before the bench. May I suggest" that for the hearing of these particular cases the court should be established in one of the theatres and seats sold to the public at half a crown each. This would provide a tidy sum towards the "Cinema" Queen's Funds, and would also cover any possible " expenses." In conclusion, it may not be amiss to remind the Council of Christian Churches that it is well within the memory of this present generation, before the laws restricting raffling and other forms of gambling were enacted, . that church bazaars organised by almost all denominations looked'to raffles as the surest and greatest source of revenue. Why the "volte face?" Do our parents and ourselves come under the classification of all those nasty things I quoted in -my first paragraph?' May it not be suggested that it is owing to the failure of the churches represented by the Council of Christian Churches to inculcate in the minds of their adherents, the true principles .of charity that resort has- to be had to the methods which are now so much deplored by them? In any case, if the council knows of any better way to raise much-needed money quickly, let it tell us about it, or desist from purely destructive criticism. —I am, etc., Anti-Humbug.