TATTERSALL'S CLUB. OFFICIAL OPENING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 59, 7 September 1909, Page 3

TATTERSALL'S CLUB. OFFICIAL OPENING.

BOOKMAKERS AND RACING CLUBS. The official opening of the New Zealand Tattersall's Club took place in the club rooms, Exchange Buildings, Lamb-ton-quay, last evening. The president of the club (Col. Hume) presided, and amongst those present -were the ActingPrime Minister (the Hon. Jas. Carroll) and the Hon. J. A. Millar. Mr. J. B. Harcourt proposed the toast of "Success to the New Zealand Tattersail's' Club." He said the formation and inauguration of the club had created a good deal of interest and attention. The speaker went .on to refer- to the ancient clubs of the Roman time and the clubs of the present time. He spoke of the freedom of the clubs and the absence of social distinctions in the colonial clubs. He also spoke of the local Tattersall's Club, and Eaid that he had been astounded at the conveniences and the luxuries which were provided there. The club, he thought, was bound to go on and be a credit, not only to Wellington, but to New Zealand. . | In replying, Colonel Hume said he Thought the promoters of the club deserved the congratulations of everybody present. (Applause.) The club had launched its' "Dreadnought" and it was going to be attacked from the east and the west (a voice : and from the "North" too).' How o were they going to reply to these attacks? They were going to keep their armament clean and they were going to have a shot in the locker. (Laughter.) The officers of the club were determined to run it on straight lines, and they thought they would be an immense advantage, to the racing clubs of New Zealand. There were bookmakers and bookmakers. Personally, he felt there was a necessity for such a club and he thought that before many months were over the racing cjubs of New Zealand would be grateful that the club had ' been established. They would endeavour to reciprocate with the Australian Tattersall's Club. li the club could not be run on proper lines it would not be run at all. (Applause.) The Hon. J. A. Millar proposed "The Racing Clubs of New Zealand."/ He thanked the club for its invitation to be present, and said that for many years he liad held the view that there was no real difference between his taking £100 to 10s about the possibility of his house being burned down than taking £100 to 10s about the result of a horserace. The racing clubs hatk done a great deal to bring racing into its present position ; they had done a great deal to purify the sport and to-day no one need be afraid to take a female- friend — either his wife, daughter, or sister — to a racecourse. People who knew least about the sport condemned it. Not to love sport would be against their national traditions. He hoped the club would prosper until it became the sports' club of New Zealand where disputes "relating to all branches of sport would be settled. The Minister said that some of the racing clubs should take a broader view than they had been taking. Some of them seemed to have one aim — the totalisator. It was the life-giving fountain, but the clubs should give facilities to men who wished to invest their money in a different way. Up to a certain period bookmakers had paid nothing — he would not' like to say what they, had paid to the club's during the last twelve months. Mr. M. Myers replied to the toast. The racing clubs, he said, had done a great deal to purify sport. The local club had had to struggle, and thanks to ■ the energy, of the president and the members of the club they now had one of the finest courses in the Southern Hemisphere — (applause). Op behalf of the Wellington Racing Club and the other racing clubs of New Zealand he thanked those present for the response which the toast had met. Mr. T. Rapley proposed the health of the bookmakers. He said he had found that some of the very best fellows in the world belonged to the bookmaking profession. (Applause.) As other speakers had- remarked there were bookmakers and bookmakers, and he was pleased to note that bookmakers were present. He concluded by expressing the hope that the S/dney Tattersall's Club would reciprocate with the local club and that the club would prosper. '. Messrs. W. Scott and W. Ryan replied. The latter said he thought the club had been built on a foundation that would last for years. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser proposed "the Visitors." He said that he could not let the opportunity pass without referring to the presence of Mr. W. Tuck (of Wanganui), who had taken a leading part ir? the 'world of sport. That night the members of the club really asked the visitors to be the judges of the club. They did not wish to be judged by the extremists. They wished to be judged by the moderates. (Hear, hear.) Some people would not be taught. They would take their opinions fronr secondary information that would not stand the test of truth.' In Tattersalls Club they wished to be judged by the broadminded people. The members of the club hoped to be able to build something in the way of a monument. They realised that it was for the members of the club to make or mar its success. In that spirit they welcomed all those who were not members of the club. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., recalled the passing of the clause in the Gaming Act which was responsible for the foundation of the club.- He hoped the club would always maintain a very high standard in regard to sport. As a member of the House of Representatives he had always maintained that it could not. be snown that the gambling evil could not be minimised either where the bookmaker or .the totalisator was on top. In conclusion he hoped that the club would always maintain a high standard of respectability and endeavour to live up to the standard which had been set by the clubs on "the other side." ( Mr.W. Tuck also replied. The Hon. James Carroll proposed the health of the chairman. He paid a tribute to ~ Colonel nume, and said that he was well qualified to fill the position in which they found him that night. I[t was* true that the future success of the club rested on public opinion. Racing they could not do -without. Up to the present time the sport had been so controlled that very littfe objection could be taken to it. At the same time the controlling authorities required assistance, and there were yet improvements to be made. He had had personal experience with the bookmaking fraternity, and he had found the bookmakers to be good samples of men. It was law to-day that the bookmakers were privileged to operate on the racecourse. That being so they had to make the best of the position, and endeavour to make racing a success. The^elub had to see that all the proprieties were observed. The club would be able to assure the racing clubs that they were issuing licenses to repiitable men. The onus of discriminating between bookmakers and bookmakers should not be cast on the clubs. By the establishment of. a £»ew Zealand Tattersalls Club bookmakers could be accepted by the racing clubs without any question. To Colonel Hume they looked to so control the affairs of the club that the outcome would be the acceptance of the best men, and that they would bo-no refleciioQ on tbe ranks of the club, Other-

wise the club would have to dissolve. If the club permitted nothing to its discredit, its establishment would be to the good of its name and a great help to the racing authorities. Colonel Hume briefly responded.