TATTERSALL'S CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 484, 17 April 1909, Page 6

TATTERSALL'S CLUB.

:■;%> BE STAETED EN ; TOLtINTON;;"' :A couple of years ago the bookmaking fraterdtyiof me Dominion were tbiust well into Hie lublio attention: owing to the amount of time ■"arliament devoted to betting legislation. Pinilly,: daring the session before last, the polico, (©coming active; decided that a turf cominieibn agent or bookmaker had no right with an iffice in which to transact his business (and ie'was promptly ejected.from the eame). At he same time Parliament decided that the fraernity .was to, be iiy?n the right to bet on egistered. racecourses on payment of a.license ee. So it came about that a bookmaker had 10' place in which to square up his accounts md bets won or;lost had'to be paid in the , itreet or .in a hotel. .■■■•■''■■■ l ;- , . : •■ This is to be altered. The fraternity have lecided ■' to institute, a Tattersall'e Club in Wel.in'gton, and threo of. the leading "firms"—if they may be called suchrr-have. guaranteed the rent of .the • first ilopr of Mr. Robert, Hannah's fine new building on Lambton Quay for a number of years, and this Via to be furnished at ■ jnce in the etyle of comfortable club premises, with; two billiard tables, a reading room, social room* and a'firstaslass, 6upper room. The membership of the club will as in other large :entres, include -.such'' applicants as are' deemed Bt and/proper persona to be members. Turf jommissioh agents admitted to membership will be guaranteed by the club. v ■. ' One leading bookmaker ;Waa consulted yesterday on! a point that must inevitably crop up— that under/the Police Offences Act a place where betting ia transacted is a gaming-houee. He stated that the position was very simple. No bettang, would take place at the club—it was not formed for that purpose—but as a place .where members could settle their accounts with those who bet after a Taee meeting,' and, for that purpose a regular "settling" day would;be,decided upon as in Sydney and Melbourne. At pi'esent the Legislature permitted pencillers to practise, but would not allow.them offices in which to "square up" with clients, which had to be 'done on tho street or elsewhere.' 'The,club would provide a. recognised'place where sportsmen, could' assemble to settle, bets, made on races run> within or beyond the Dominion. .;