LOTTERY TICKETS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1933, Page 11

LOTTERY TICKETS

DISCUSSION IN SYDNEY. It is not surprising, says a Sydney correspondent, that the man in the street should ejaculate when there is mention of the New South Wales Government Bill to prevent shilling syndicates from being formed to buy lottery tickets, “Ah, that is to get at Mr. Whiddon.” The belief is not shared in official circles, but It has wide circulation. The aim of the Ministry is explained 6s being a desire to keep as much money as possible for the hospitals. It is not clear that abolishing the syndicates of seven to a' ticket will accomplish this. The persons who arrange these syndicates get a profit of Is. 6d. from each ticket, and some who have achieved popularity owing to their syndicates having won many prizes or some of the most valuable prizes, are building up good bank balances. “Mr. Whiddon, the first director of lotteries,” says the correspondent, “opened Em office when he retired from the directorship and announced that the promotion of shilling syndicates would be ‘a specialty.’ He was supposed to be not quite friendly to the Ministry and the Ministry not friendly to him, but probably the surmise has no justification in fact. It has been proposed that there should be a shilling lottery in addition to the larger lottery, so that people who cannot afford more may have the same opportunity as have those who can afford 55.; and without the cost of the services of the promoter of syndicates. This, it is stated, will be refused, and will bring further condemnation of the Ministry on the ground that it is ‘undemocratic.’ “The whole lottery business is a' nightmare to Mr. Stevens, but it seems that he cannot at present escape it.”