Sub-Enclosure D.
4
"Daily Press April 8th 1886 138
On the Council resuming consideration in Committee of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Vagrants, the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the addition of the following clause:
Every person who shall in any street, road, or other open and public place, or in any open place to which the public have access, sell or offer for sale any ticket or chance or any share in any ticket or chance in lottery, or who shall in such street, road, or place publish the winning number, name, or character in any lottery shall be liable on conviction thereof before a Police Magistrate, to a fine not exceeding ten dollars for the first offence or not exceeding twenty-five dollars for the second or any subsequent offence.
The COLONIAL TREASURER begged to second the motion, and I am glad to take this opportunity of saying I regret that when this matter was last before us I was a little taken by surprise, and allowed my heartfelt abhorrence of lotteries of every kind to lead me to use some rather strong language as to lotteries in general. I do not withdraw my opinion that lottery tickets of any kind should not be allowed to be sold in this Colony, no matter where they originate; but I am sorry I weakened my cause, as one always does by hasty and ill-considered language, by some rather uncalled-for expressions with regard to a particular lottery. I have great pleasure in seconding the insertion of this clause.
The CHIEF JUSTICE thought this provision was taken from the English law?
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Yes, except with regard to the publication of the winning number, name, or character, which was put in by the desire of the Captain Superintendent of Police. It is only against selling lottery tickets in the street.
Hon. W. KESWICK—In the event of the fine not being paid does the person apprehended render himself liable to imprisonment?
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—That, I should say, would come under the general provisions of law relating to the recovery of fines.
Hon. W. KESWICK—I very much fear that if that course be adopted we shall require to have a very great addition made to our prison accommodation.
Hon. P. RYBY—I do not quite see the objection to the sale of lottery tickets. Now and then I buy one myself. I think the feeling against it is rather sentimental than otherwise. I do not see what harm it does. These tickets are sold freely in Manila, and if people cannot get them here they will write to Manila and get them, and so you will merely interfere with a lot of men who go about and get a living here by the sale of these tickets. It will not stop the sale of tickets in any way except that people will write to their friends in Manila and say "take number so and so for me and send it over by letter." That is what I think, and I do not see how it will help us in any way or protect the colony from any evil. I do not know about Chinese lottery tickets; that may be different; still I do not think they are such a great evil as some people are inclined to think. I think to make a man a rogue and a vagabond because he handles these tickets...
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I do not say that, you will see by Clause 4.
Hon. P. RYBY—I certainly think the Manila lottery is a thing that will exist in spite of us, and any legislation we may pass in this Council will not stop it.
HIS EXCELLENCY—This Ordinance will not stop the sale of tickets in shops, but only in public places. I think, however, that the objection of my hon. friend on my left (Hon. W. Keswick) is the more serious, and I think it would be better to postpone this matter until we have the report of the committee which I have just appointed to consider the question of the gaol accommodation, in consequence of the report of the Superintendent of that establishment that there is not room for the prisoners. I see no harm in allowing the matter to stand over.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Then I will move, as regards this clause, that it stand over for the present sine die.
Sub-Enclosure D.
4
" Daily
Press
lo
April 8th 1886
138
On the Council resuming consideration in Committee of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Vagrants, the AcTING] ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the addition of the] following clanse-
any
Every person who shall in any street, road, or other open and public place, or in any opoo place to which the public have access, sell or offer for sale any ticket or chance or
or any share in any ticket or chanon in lottery, or who shall in such street, road, or place publish the winning number, name, or character in any lottery shall be liable on conviction thereof before a Police Magistrate. to a fine not exceeding ton dollara. for the first offonce or not exoceding twenty-five dol lars for the second or any subsequent offence,
The COLONIAL TEEASURERI beg to second the motion, and I am glad to take this op- portunity of saying I regret that when this matter was last before us I was a little taken by surprise, and allowed my heartfelt abhorrence of lotteries of every kind to lead me to use some rather strong language as to lotteries in general. I do not withdraw my opinion that lottery tickets of any kind should not be allowed to be sold in this Colony, no matter where they originate ; but I am sorry I weakened my cause, as one always does by hasty and ill considered language, by some rather uncalled for expressions with regard to a particular lottery. I have great pleasure in seconding the insertion of this clause,
The CHIEF JUSTICI think this provision is taken from the English law?
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Yes, es- cept with regard to the publination of the win- ing number, name, or character, which was pat in by the desire of the Captain Superintendent of Police. It is only against selling lottery tickets in the street.
Hon. W. KESWICK-In the event of the fine not being paid does the person apprehended ronder himself liable to imprisonment ?
The Acrive ATTORNEY-GENERAL-That, I should say, would come under the general pro- visions of law relating to the racovery of fines.
Hon. W. KESWICK-I very much fear that
if that course be adopted we shall require to have a very great addition made to our prison accommodation.
HON P. RYBIE-I do not quite see the objec- tion to the sale of lottery tickets. Now and then I buy oue myself. I think the feeling against it is rather sentimental than otherwise. I do not see what barru it does. These tickets are sold freely in Manila, and if people cannot get them here they will write to Manila and get them, and so you will merely interfere with a lot of en who go about and get a living here by the sale of these tickets. It will not stop the sale of tickets in any way except that people will write to their friends in Manila and say
"take number so and so for me! jaud send it over by letter.” That is what I think, and I do not see how it will help us in any way or protect the colony from any evil. I do not know about Chinose lottery tickets; that may be different; still I do not think they are such a great evil as some people are incliued to think. I think to make a man a rogne and vá- į gabond becanso he handles these tickets
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I do not say that, you will see by Clause 4.
Hon. P. RYRI-1 certainly think the Manila lottery is a thing that will exist in spite of us, and any legislation we may pass in this Council will not stop it.
HIS EXCELLENCY--This Ordinance will not stop the sale of tickets in shops, but only in public places. I think, however, that the objection of my hon. friend on my left (Hon. W. Koswick) is the more serious, and I think it would be better to postpone this matter until we have the report of the committos which I have just ap- pointed to consider the question of the gaol ac- commodation, in consequence of the report of the Superintendent of that establishment that there is not room for the prisoners. I see no harm in allowing the matter to stand over.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Then I will move, as regards this clause, that it stand over for the present sine die.
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