8. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the varying practice of the police in the matter of the sale of tickets in tombolas organised on behalf of charities, he will consider issuing for the assistance of the public and of the police a concise statement of the principles which guide his Department in deciding whether or not proceedings shall be taken in such cases?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSPublic lotteries are definitely illegal. The law does not discriminate between those promoted in aid of charity and other public lotteries, and I am afraid I cannot undertake to instruct the police to do so.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the recent case in which two of these events were organised in 1145 the same town on a very large scale, and one was stopped by the police while the other was allowed to go on?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThat case has been brought to my notice. Of course, it was not in the Metropolitan police district, but I am making inquiries into it.