Gambling and Charity The action for damages brought against the
organiser of a gambling party held in aid of charity did no good either to the plaintiff or the organiser or to charity. It is a bad argument for voluntary medical services that, to exist, they must share the proceeds of gambling with promoters, croupiers, and punters, and a worse argument for gambling that it flourishes by involving hospitals and charities in its own discredit. It has long been thought one of the advantages of the dependence of hospitals. and medical services on voluntary contributions that such a system promoted charity as well as health. It appears now that it promotes gambling also ; charity -is scarcely the word for a percentage- of the gains made at roulette or ehernin-de-fer.. Nor did the questions which engaged the attention of the court compel the conviction that the sole object of those who engaged in this charitable activity was the alleviation of pain and disease. Indeed, there appear to be more repellent diseases than those which lead to a hospital ward. Few, except gamblers, will regret Mr. Justice Finlay's expressed hope that charitable associations will no longer resort to such dubious methods of money-raising.
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