ALLEGED LOTTERY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18063, 13 April 1933, Page 7

ALLEGED LOTTERY

NOVEL SYSTEM USED^ RAISING FUNDS FOR BANDS • (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last- night. The legality of a scheme to raise funds to send the Port Nicholson Silver Band to Dunedin to compete in the band contest was questioned in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. E. Page, S.M., when William James Spittal and Alfred Buckley, representing the A grade band contest committee were charged with breaches ,of tho Gaining Act. Tho defendants were charged with assisting in nmnag ing or conducting a lottery, and with disposing of u motor ear by lotto chance. After he had 1: rd ovid. .eo and legal argument, the magist.ute reserved his decision.

Evidence was presented to show that the winner of the prize had been determined by a process of elimination in connection witli competitive rifle shooting/ The prosecution submitted that the competition was not decided by skill because no skill was exercised by competitors, and the chances between the persons running the competition and the holders of the tickets were not equal. The only suggestion of skill was that on the part of the riflemen.

The defence submitted that the most that had linen proved was that there was disposal by chance of the right in the final shooting contest for individual ticket holders to be represented by individual marksmen. "I submit that all that has been disposed of by lot or chance," said counsel, "is tho right of representation in it contest of skill." Counsel intimated that if a conviction was entered, the decision of another court would be obtained.

The magistrate said ho would give a written decision after the Easter holidays.