“SURPRISE PACKETS."

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 26 June 1926, Page 6

“SURPRISE PACKETS."

VICIOUS PRINCIPLE. By To.eerapl —Press Association AUCKLAND. Juno 25. At the Police Court. Wilfred Henry Skeates was charged that he disposed of personal property, a fancy necklet, to Detective AVhite, by chance, and by the sax- of a packet containing n, ticket, from a. number of packets. Detective Hammond said- the town had been literally swamped with these lotteries during the past few weeks. Counsel for defondent said four othei traders had disposed of their stock this way before Skeates adopted the idea, yet no exception was taken. Detective Hammond said there was one other scheme before Skeates 1 , in which the Y.M.C.1., was intorsted. Defendant was fined £lO and costs. Alfred Henry Burrage was charged with soiling a surprise packet and Robert Burns with disposing of toilet soap by chance, and by the sale of a packet. Counsel for defence did not deny that Iho scheme was a lottery or that the ticket was fold by Ruvridge, who was one of a syndicate of John Burns and Co.’s employees, assisting a good cause. He submitted that Robert Burns a s managing director, was responsible and no one had received any personal benefit. The whole of the proceeds were appropriated by the Y.W.C.A. Mi' .1. W. Poyntoil dismissed the charge against Burns under Section 92 of the Justice of the Peace Act. In fining Burridge £1 and costs, he said: “These causes are becoming a great shelter for such lotteries. The principle is a vicious one. In future people who run these lotteries must be punished more severely.’’