ANOTHER IRISH SWEEP

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 7

ANOTHER IRISH SWEEP

IN PRIZE-MONEY. 2a PER CENT. FOR HOSPITALS. A. correspondent, says the New Zealand Herald, states that on two occasions last week- he was approached to buy tickets in a gigantic Irish sweepstake at 10s each. He was assured that there was no difficulty in remitting the money to Ireland. “It seems a great pity that money should be leaving New Zealand for such purposes as sweepstakes when the country’s finances are being taxed to the limit to keep essential services in a state of efficiency,” says the writer. “Personally, I do not indulge in any sort of gambling, but since so many people enjoy the mild excitement of having a ticket in a sweepstake, why not run a big one in New Zealand and build the harbour bridge with the proceeds ? lam informed, this work would keep several hundreds of men employed for three years.” Inquiry did riot have to be carried far before ®ne found a man with a book of tickets in this sweepstake for sale.. It is called the Irish Free State Hospitals Sweepstake, which according to the ticket is held under the Public Charitably Hospitals (Temporary Provisions) Art, 1930. Thp chairman of the committee by which it is conducted is Viscount Powerscourt. The vice-chairman is Sir William Taylor. The sweepstake is to be decided by the Grand National, which will be run at Liverpool on March 27, and it will be drawn under the supervision of General. O’Duffy, Commissioner of Police, at the Mansion House, Dublin, on March 24. It is hoped to have available for distribution in prize money £lOO,OOO. Whatever be the sum, it will be 75 per cent, of the proceeds, less audited expenses as sanctioned by the Act, the remaining 25 per cent, going to public hospitals in Ireland. On the basis of a prize pool of £lOO,000 the drawer of the wiunng horse will receive 30 per cent., or £30,000, the drawer of the second horse 15 per cent., or £15,000, and the drawer of the third horse 10 per cent., or £lO,OOO. Nine-per cent., or £9OOO, will be divided among those who draw the other horses originally entered and if in the. result three horses are not placed, this sum will be increased by the value of any prize not distributable. In addition, there are to be 360 prizes of £lOO. Sellers of the three first tickets are to receive a four-figure bonus. Tickets are being sold in Auckland at 10s od, the ninepence being the cost of remitting the money. As in the case of Tattersalls tickets sold by New Zealand agents, no doubt much of the money will be remitted by bank draft, the rate. of exchange being £7 10s per £lOO, which is the same as ninepence in 10s. From the knowledge of the city in the Irish sweepstake one should say that the selling organisation is extensive and that a large business is being done.