§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. W. D. Ford, postmaster at Uddingston, some time ago got up a lottery in aid of the family of a letter carrier who had lost his appointment through ill-health; that over 66,000 tickets were sold, and over £800 realised; that of this sum £367 had been accounted for as bonuses to the persons who sold the tickets, and only £33 paid to the letter carrier's family; and that, with a balance of over £300 in hand from this lottery, Mr. Ford had started another lottery in England with the same avowed ob- 873 ject, tickets 3d. each, and amount realised estimated at about £600; whether letter carriers or other servants of the Post Office were among the persons who sold the tickets on commission; and, if so, whether he will warn them in future to avoid such transactions, and whether he proposes taking any steps in connection with Mr. Ford?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.In December last attention was called to the fact that Mr. Ford was engaged in a lottery for the benefit of the family of a Post Office servant whose health had broken down. On inquiry being made, he expressed regret for having done what was disapproved of, and abandoned the issue of tickets and circulars; but until this question appeared on the Notice Paper there was no idea that the practice had gone so far as it now appears to have done. In view of the allegations brought to my notice by the Hon. Member, an immediate and thorough investigation will be made.
§ DR. CAMERONI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to four public lotteries organised by Messrs. William Hunter, of the Inland Revenue Office, Glasgow, and W. D. Ford, postmaster at Uddingston, and to the fact that the carrying out of these lotteries was characterised by an absence of those precautions as regards drawing and accounting which would be thought necessary, as a guarantee of fair play, in the case of a legalised lottery; whether the lotteries in question came within the class of lotteries forbidden by the law of Scotland; and whether he proposes to institute any legal proceedings in connection with them?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Sir C. J. PEARSON,) Edinburgh and St. Andrews UniversitiesMy attention was first called to this matter by the question of the hon. Member. On inquiry I find the subscription sales referred to were promoted for purely charitable purposes, and there is, on the information before me, no trace of fraud or even of advantage to the promoters. While these sales appear to fall within the definition of lotteries under the Statute, the 874 Public Prosecutor has always exercised a discretion as to the classes of lotteries which are fit subjects for prosecution, and I do not consider that any of the cases referred to call for my intervention.
§ DR. CAMERONI beg to give notice that in Committee I shall move to reduce the salary of the Lord Advocate in order to call attention to this subject, and the persistent neglect of the Lord Advocate to enforce the law.
§ MR. CALDWELL (Glasgow, St. Rollox)Does the Lord Advocate hold himself entitled to carry out the law in any particular case or not, as he thinks fit?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ DR. CAMERONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether the attention of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue has been called to the fact that Mr. Wm. Hunter, Supervisor of Inland Revenue, Glasgow, about two years ago got up a public lottery in aid of a lad named Miller; that, although repeatedly challenged to do so, he has never published any account of receipts and disbursements in connection with it; that again, a few months since, he advertised "A Grand Prize Drawing on the Art Union principle, in aid of a seaside home for cripple and deformed children," with prizes valued at £1,000, and tickets at 3d. each, but subsequently, "in consequence of reflections cast upon the scheme," resolved to abandon it; and whether the Commissioners propose to take any steps in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir JOHN GORST,) ChathamThe attention of the Board of Inland Revenue was not called to the lottery got up in aid of the lad Miller. Mr. Hunter states that he has never been personally challenged to publish a statement of accounts in the case, and that no suggestion of the kind was made to him previously to the publication of the anonymous letter to which, as it was anonymous, he did not consider it necessary to reply. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have, however, supplied me with figures showing the disposal of the gross receipts, and they show that the balance now in hand is 875 vested in Trustees. The "Grand Prize Drawing on the Art Union principle" was brought to the Board's notice last January, and Mr. Hunter was at once ordered to sever his connection with it. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue see no reason to doubt that Mr. Hunter's object was purely philanthropic, and, though his conduct has no doubt been highly injudicious, they do not feel it incumbent upon them to take further steps in the matter.
§ DR. CAMERONDoes the information of the right hon. Gentleman go so far as to show how much money was paid as commission on sales of tickets?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTA considerable amount, but I am unable to answer without notice.