OPPOSITION TO LOTTERY SYSTEM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1931, Page 1

OPPOSITION TO LOTTERY SYSTEM.

MINISTER OF HEALTH CONDEMNS PRINCIPLE.

(Special to the “ Star.”) PALMERSTON N., August 5. Decided hostility to the raising of money for Government social services j [ by means of lotteries was voiced by | the Hon A. J. Stallworthy (Minister of Health) in addressing members of the Palmerston North Rotary Club at their weekly luncheon. After stressing the need for selfreliance and pointing out that industry j and thrift were two fundamental principles that could not be disregarded, the Minister said he was going to ask ' Rotarians for their moral support in regard to opposing any change, in the direction that had been suggested for : the financing of social services. Certain demands, he proceeded, had been made upon Ministers and upon the Government to do as the gambler did—to j stake all on the throw of a dice. In j the Dominion there had been built up j social services of which New Zealanders j could be proud, but, owing to*the strain i on the public purse, grants to hospitals had to l e reduced. To the call for 1 economy 98 per cent of the boards had I responded magnificently; the Palmers-! ton North board had risen to the occasion and was doing its task in fine manner. Next year, it was to be hoped, would bring better conditions, but there were no prospects of that to- . day. On every New Zealander there j was a serious obligation to apply him- < self to the task ahead and help ul- 1 timately to bring about a more pros- 1 perous state of affairs. “ Gambler’s Dice.’’ In the meantime it was being suggested that a State lottery should be established to provide funds for hospital work —in other words, the abrogation of constitutional methods for a gambler’s dice. It had been stated ! that £2,00,000 had been subscribed in the Irish Free State lottery; but owing to the heavy expenses, only £700,000 had been available for the hospitals, j In New Zealand the cost of art unions j had been very high,. ranging from 40 , to 50 per cent; and if the people were to throw overboard constitutional methods of raising funds, easily onehalf of the money forthcoming could be swallowed up in expenses. “ If we as a community,” Mr Stallworthy went on, “ deliberately countenance or assist in raising money for public utilities other than by a constitutional way, we are helping. even though it may be unconsciously, to , break down those fundamental prin- j ciples of industry and thrift. If we i come to rely on the services of others, 1 ; may be a brother or a sister, or an in-' j stitution, or the Government, or if we teach our children to rely on others, we will break down the self-depend- « ence or our race and do nothing else than to wreck the Empire to which we belong. “ I am sure that my words will not fall on deaf ears when I appeal to Rotarians to stand by those two great ; principles—principles that are eternal, ] and on which our grand heritage has 1 been built,” the Minister concluded. ; -