TATTERSALL'S CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1909, Page 9

TATTERSALL'S CLUB.

ANTICIPATING A REQUEST. DEPUTATION TO THE ACTING-PRIME MINISTER. ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT. The rumoured proposed that a request is to bo made for a charter for Tatterpall's Club, which is being formed in Wellington, led to a deputation, representing various temperance and religious interests, waiting on the Acting Prime Minister (Hon. J. Carroll) yesterday afternoon. The deputation was briefly introduced by Mr. J. G. W. Aitken. The Rev. J. J. North said the objections that the deputation had to uige wero of two types. The deputation wanted, first, to point out that the establishment of a Tattersall's Chib m central premises in the city was tantamount to tho defeat of the Government's proposals in lixsb year's legislation, 'ihat was successful in closing all the bookmakers' offices in the city, but it was now proposed to form a central bookmakers' clvb — the opening of one large bookmakers' office in place of twenty or thirty small ones, 'ihe deputation desired to impress on the Minister the impossibility of preventing extensive betting transactions in. such an institution. He (the Minister) knew very well the ''difficulty the poHce had in preventing betting in clubs/and such a club as was now proposed would make the difficulty all the greater. The Rev. J. Dawpon dealt, with the .•■uggesled proposal that the club should be granted a charter— a license to &ell liquor. He emphasised the fact that when the present Government came into power it granted three new club charters — at Gisborne, Hastings, and Feilding — but they were then definitely assured by the Hon. Dr. Findlay that no more club charters would bo granted. The granting of a charter was practically the granting of a new and additional license. At the last licensing poll in Wellington there was a majority of more than two thousand against license, and the opponents of license would have very grave reason to complain if an additional license was granted in the form of a club charter. THE MINISTER IN REPLY. The Acting Prime Minister, in replying, said that there was no application for a charter 'lf pr the club, and if an application did come in the Government would not alter its policy in regard to granting club charters. With respect to the other aspects of the question, he did not know that they could interfere with any section of the' people forming themselves into a club, or acquiring premises for their own recreation, as long as they did not put themselves into such a position as to claim the attention of the authorities. The rlub might, through its rules, make an effort to prevent any such thing as gambling : the club might be only for social purposes. If there was any evidence of the fact that tho club was to be used for gambling purposes, the proposition put forward by Mr. North would receive every consideration ; but at present he ctid not think they should go so far as to say that the club was to be formed for ce>tain purposes. Rev. J. J. North : The Dominion puDlished their own statement of tho case — that one of the proposals was to make the club a centre for settling up betting engagements. We feel that a club where bets are settled would be a place in which fresh bets would be made. The Minister suggested that the club might be used as a place in which bets not paid on the "course would be settled. A member of the deputation : Did not Sir Joseph Ward emphasise the intention of the Government' to -confine gambling to' the racecourse? The Minister : That is so. 'The Deputationist : And this would open the way to all sorts of betting, which could not be detected. The Minister : You come back to the question of whether the premises will be used for betting. The Deputationist : Whether the payment of a bet is a bet. The Minister : If there is anything at all to evidence to the Government that there's a danger of this evil being carried out ostensibly under the form of a club, it will have to be looked into and steps taken. Mr. Moore : I believe in Sydney these clubs were abolished because they were centres of gambling. The Minister said no ; they existed at Sydney and Melbourne, and were very J large , institutions. It was argued, on ' behalf of the formation of Tatterpall's Clubs, that they got together the higher order — if there was any sueh — ("Ha, ha," came an interruption)'— of the fraternity — and he believed there was. There J were differences between one section and another, Just as in other sections of the community. Rev. Dr. Gibb : They are all black under the skin. The Minister went on to say that it was. put forward that this club would bring together the- more circumspect of the order, who would recognise their status and try and lift themselves to a status that would make them acceptable to the general public, as against those who are undesirables. A deputalionist : Or put themselves in a position to better evade the vigilance of the police. The Minister : I don't say that. lam only saving what is put forward on their' behalf. On the othfr phase of the question, you need have no apprehension. The Government is not Hkely to change its opinion. It has already made its policy known on that subject.