CHARITY CARNIVALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17609, 27 October 1931, Page 7

CHARITY CARNIVALS

N.S.W. GOVERNOR’S STAND VULGAR GAMBLING SYDNEY, Oct. 13. Behind the Governor’s announcement that he would not officiate at the opening of. tlie Rose Day carnival for the collection, of funds for the united charities, there was something that met the eye when the plan was unfolded. ‘Sir Phillip Game said that he declined to play the role of professional beggar. It is more than we should ask a Governor to do. Professional begging!—which waa at one time a fine art—has degenerated into vulgar gambling. The united charities, for which Rose Day is organised, comprise some of the worthiest and the' oldest charity organisations and institutions that have’grown up with the community’s philanthropy. Any one of the SO or moro could be picked out by Any wealthy person looking for somethingWorthy with which to share his larges Se. Rose Day in the past has appealed largely to the hearts and sympathies of the people. This year Martin Place be- , came transformed into a sort of crazy Monte. Carlo, without any of its refinements. The stalls of the . various, organisations such as the Church of England Homes, the- Burnside Homes, the Bamardo organisations, the City Refuge, the South Sydney nomes and a host of others were placed in the centre, hidden away in what was called “Houaie Village.” On either side were marquees in which were conducted housie games, . which when played in other surroundings cause police raids. Interspersed these were what are known here as “chocolate wheels,” really gambling machines. There were about 40 of these ’ marquees of misfortune. The ends of the “Housie Village” were made up of platforms on which little. children in abbreviated dresses pranced and danced and sang. Occasionally girls of larger growth, with limbs and parts of their bodies naked, and wearing little more than V’s with backs reaching to the waist, the front held up with two strings of bias tape, gave exhibitions of singing and dancing.—The charity stalls in the midst of all this looked- like lillies trying-to grow in a pool of contaminated,-water. It • was to open this that the Governor wa3 asked to make a speech in the name of charity. It is a sad reflection' on our times and manners that we have degenerated to this. But what can one expect? On the opposite side of the street was a longqueuo waiting to get tickets in the State lottery.