NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 310, 1 October 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

LOTTERIES LEGALISED. PROVISIONS OF NEW BILL. There are .some interesting provisions in the Gaming Amendment Bill, which was circulated to-day, and a forecast of which was published yesterday morning. The second clause gives authority to disprsc by way of raffles of real or personah proper;:. C?r the benefit of the War Funds, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal Act in any other way for the time being in force relating to gaming and lotteries. The Minister of Internal Affairs has power to authorise any person or association to dispose of real or personal property to which it relates has been or \& to bo donated as a gift for the purpose of a fund within the meaning of the War Funds Act, th e amount that may be deducted by .way of expenses the decision of the Minister shall be final and conclusive. A synchronising measure is Auctioneers' Amendment Bill. Under the provisions of the measure any person, whether a licensed auctioneer or not, may sell by auction any real c,r personal property provided the money is for the benefit cf war funds. No person who is net a licensed auctioneer shall sell by auction under the proposed act unless he is specially authorised in writing to do so by a S.M. or by any mayor of the city cr borough ■r the chairman of the county or town district in wfhieh th e sale is to take place, or by the society or trustees controlling tho war fund to which the proceeds of the sale are to be paid. GOODS FROM GERMANY. £1,000,000 WORTH IN 1914. WELLINGTON, Sept. 23. The Minister for Finance (Sir J. G. Ward), in the conrse of a speech tonight, made an interesting statement ibout the Dominion's recent trade with countries which are now enemy countries. 'Until 1014 the country of origin iof goods.imported was never known ii New Zealand, but after that year the -ountry of origin had to be stated. For the seven months of "the war, the value cf goods which the Dominion imported from Germany was £1,015,000; from Austria, £-49,000; from Turkey£3o,ooo; and from Asiatic Turkey, £,"r-,-000. The Customs officials estimated that if the war had not broken out the importations from present enemy countries for the whole of the year would have been worth £1,700,000. Sir Joseph added that he thought these imports would not be restored after the war was over. If the fifn per cent, extra tax now proposed by the Government on enemy goods wore not sufficient to keep out these goods, the tax should be increased.