It is reliably reported that a proposal wa: recently made to the Shanghai Municipal Council to investigate the possibility and desirability of inaugurating a municipal lottery in Shanghai. The project is intended not so much to alleviate the financial difficulties existing at the present time, due chiefly to the fall in exchange, but with the future progress and prosperity of the city in view.
For the moment the Council may tide Over its difficulties by the proposed increase in rates and the issue of a ten million loan. but whether this will be sufficient to meet the future requirements of Shanghai if its future progress is to be assured is problematical After nearly three years of war, stagnation of trade, stoppage of building activity and public works operations, and a general retrogression, a large and continuous inflow of money will be needed to meet municipal expenses and to cope with the normal conditions which it is generally hoped are approaching.
Times change, and to those who might argue that, as years ago the Council of those days set their faces against lotteries in any shape or form, they can hardly support one now, it may be retorted that "times daily change and we likewise in them." Lotteries differ from other forms of speculation, such as the stock exchange, racing and other pursuits in which chance plays the larger part, in that the investment is small and cannot be made a matter of credit. Fortunes cannot be lost in them as in other forms of speculation. In fact most countries in the world have experimented with state or municipal lotteries and the latest to announce its intention of doing so is Japan. Even that delightful, but by some considered unduly conservative, colony of Hongkong, actually had the temerity to throw open their Jast race lotteries to the public in aid of the Central War Fund and Hospitals, and with huge success.
The Shanghai Municipal Council has al-"ways been burdened with the necessity of providing the wherewithal to finance institutions and projects which, in the opinion of many, should be supported by other than municipal expenditure. The volunteers, hospitals and schools, the jail even may be Cited. It seems now impossible to maintain these adequately at the ratepayers' expense in addition to the Council's requirements for more essential undertakings such as the police, public works, fire brigade, health and Other services. The Council, for instance, has always wished to do much more for education, but this, together with the maintenance of hospitals, sanatoría and other worthy institutions, has become increasingly difficult. And now, added to these, are pressing problems connected with rice distribution and the beggar question.
There is little doubt that a municipal lottery for Shanghai would be a success, as has been the case with other governmental lotteries, notably the Irish Free State one. The low exchange would attract money from other countries to participate in monthly or quarterly drawings and the unquestioned integrity with which it would be managed by the Municipal Council would undoubtedly make it popular far beyond the confines of what we hope will once again be the Model Settlement.
The suggestion is heartily recommended. The Municipal Council, it is understood, is at present giving the matter its careful and, it is believed, sympathetic consideration, for which it is to be congratulated. Nothing but bold realistic action in all matters by our City Fathers will guarantee this unique city the bright future it deserves. May the "Municipal Charity Lottery" emerge to assure the success of all their undertakings Which should not rightly be borne by taxing the ratepayer. The Council will then have funds enough to make this great city a brighter and healthier place to live in.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.