TASMANIAN "CONSULTATIONS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11872, 25 January 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

TASMANIAN "CONSULTATIONS."

! HOW TATTERSALL'S GREAT SWEEPS WORKED. Me. J. M. Gannon, J.P., Koi-umburra, Victoria, who at- the latter end of last year paid a flying visit to Tasmania and New Zealand, while passing through the former place examined the modus operandi of drawing Tattersall's sweeps. Mr. Gannon was at the time en route for New Zealand, and visited Tasmania the day before the Caulfield Cup was run. On arrival at Ilobart Mr. Geo. Adams (" Tattsrsall") extended a kind invitation to Mr. Gannon to be present at the drawing to take place that evening. The invitation, however, could not be accepted, as the Westralia was leaving for New Zealand that afternoon. The difficulty, however, was overcome By Mr. Adams considerately deputing one of his clerks to show Mr. Gannon round the establishment and explain to him fully how everything in connection with the drawing was performed. , " Tattersall's" premises were built specially for the conduct of the sweep business. For the purposes intended they are no doubt admirably arranged. In a room capable of holding about 40 persons the sweeps are drawn. In the centre of the room is a long table, and at the head is a revolving barrel. Seated at , the table at every drawing (it was explained), is a representative of the Government of Tasmania, whose duty it is to be present at all drawings to see that everything is properly conducted. Five clerks record the numbers of the marbles drawn. When a sweep is about to be drawn 100,000 or 50,000 marbles, as the case may be, are put into this revolving barrel. To turn this barrel with the marbles inside four men are required. Flanges are within the barrel, and these constantly work the marbles about so that none may be secreted in the corners. All the marbles are placed in the barrel some time previous to the drawing. Immediately upon this being done a Government official, who is present at the time ana superintending the operations, seals the openings, and until the time foxdrawing arrives the seals remain untouched. When the drawing is about to begin after careful examination the seals are broken by the Government official. Everything being in readiness a long, silver rod with a spring inside is introduced into the barrel. A small openinrr is at the end of the rod. By touching a little spring, and in the presence of all those assembled, a marble is caught up by the rod and taken out of the barrel. The marble so removed is deposited in a small dish, to which a rong handle is attached. The number on the marble is read out by the Government olueial and duly recorded by the five clerks to whom the duty of so doing is specially relegated. The length of the rod is about 4ft 6in, and the handle of the dish is 4ft long. Everyone engaged is kept at least four feet from the marbles during' the process of drawing. It is beyond the ability of anyone to palm a marble. Two £1000 cash prizes are tirawn first, and after the marbles are recorded and checked vTley are passed into the hands of the Government representative, and in the. presence of the audience are again placed into the barrel. Other cash prizes are then drawn, 10 of £500, 20 of £250, and so on, until the cash prize list is exhausted. After each drawing the marbles are checked and replaced in the ban-el. Finally the drawing for the horses takes place. For this purpose a second and smaller barrel is brought into requisition. In this barrel is placed the name of each horse printed on a marble. Then, simultaneously, a marble ia drawn from each barrel, and in each instance the number on the marble and at the same time the name of the horse drawn are loudly called out. This is continued until all the marbles with horses' names on are drawn. A strange x-in the room is generally selected to draw these marbles. - This concluded the explanation as to how the drawing of sweeps took place, conducted, however, throughout under strict Government supervision. In view of the paraphernalia employed and observing the manner in which everything throughout is conducted, it was quite comprehensible how by one dive of the silver rod into the interior of the barrel with 100,000 marbles some impecunious but fortunate mortal could by the aid of the magic wand;and Tattersall's sweep—be instantaneously made rich " beyond the dreams of avarice." In -Christchurch, New Zealand, a working contractor has this year (1301) been successful in drawing the winner of the Caulfield Oup. Mr. Geo. Adams' stall' for carrying out what are euphemistically termed "consultations" comprises over 100 clerks. In one room thirty ladies and ten gentlemen were' all engaged in opening letters. Each envelope as opened is noted and filed. The contents are taken out and placed on one side. Clerks come along, take the money and records, check the same, and see that all correspond. Each envelope as it is opened lias a certain mark placed upon it, indicating by whom the envelope was so opened. By this means should any error arise it can be immediately traced to its clerical source. In each sweep two envelopes are forwarded, and they are placed on one side, sorted, and tied up in bundles of 100 each, and put away on shelves. These latter are for result slips. The second envelope is put away for use at once, and sent on to another room, where about forty persons are engaged in sending tickets away as soon as the lists are checked and passed out from the first room. It is an arrangement with the Postal Department that not more than 8000 letters be delivered in one day. Should that number be exceeded the balance would be retained in the post office until the following day. All money and valuables are forwarded to the bank each night, although that is not necessary, as there are excellent safes in the building. But to do so is part of the system unSer which the business is conducted, and from that system there is not any deviation. In another room were a number of clerks sorting the envelopes for result slips in the £1 sweep on the Melbourne Cup, and last, but not least, were clerks engaged in ascertaining the names of the persons who were sufficiently fortunate to draw" the names of horses or money prizes ?i'i the sweep of the evening previous. The numbers of the marbles as they are drawn out of the barrel are immediately checked by the clerks and examined to see that they agree. This is most important to Tattersall, as a fresh list is written out and checked by Government auditors and its accuracy determined. This latter list is bound in book form and kept as a record for future reference and examination if occasion should arise. One book of a sweep recently drawn showed that all but one prize for £71 odd had been claimed. The successful prize-holder was in South Africa, and he had not had time to claim. Another list was shown where the address of a well-known barrister was given. Tattersall not hearing from the successful prize-winner wrote to the barrister in question. A reply came to hand that the barrister had left the States. This letter and the reply in form of circular are kept and bound up for inspection by the Government auditor, as evidence that Tattersall has done all in his power to find the successful drawer of the prize. These circular letters are not forwarded until six months have i elapsed after the drawing. In another room were a number of clerks engaged sorting the post office orders into their different denominations. It is not necessary to produce your winning ticket, but it is necessary that you communicate at once with Tattersall should you lose or mislay it. An embargo is put upon the question of distribution at once, and not until Tattersall is satisfied that the prize is going to the right person will the money be paid over. Should anyone be successful in drawing a big prize and unfortunate enough to lost his ticket he should communicate with Tattersall, who will put him on the right track to get the money. In Tasmania no person can buy a ticket at the office. Tickets are obtained tnrough the post offices. The reason is obvious. Information of all kind is given at the office, but no tickets are sold there. Exclusive of the number of persons employed in this particular establishment many are engaged attending to the printing of tickets, result slips, etc. The Postal Department is very particular with Tattersall s business. The postage stamps are perforated specially for them, and should a letter by chance, or otherwise, go into the Taamanian Post Office with one of Tattersall's stamps on it would be returned to the great sweep promoter, no matter to i whom the letter was addressed. Nearly an

hour was spent going through the vast building. After expressing thanks for the kind attention shown and for the information supplied in reply to a question as to how Tattersall would be affected by the Commonwealth law the answer given "was: ■ "■Tattersall would not die easily." If the business is not permitted to be carried on. in Tasmania an announcement would be made in due timo

Since writing the foregoing the very latest information to hand (7th inst.) is that Tattersall will not be interfered with. The chances are the business may be continued for years, at least until his patrons withdraw ineir support, which will probably be about doomsday; There is one thing certain, the whole business is carried on fairly and squarely and above board. Everyone has an equal show for his money, ii unsuccessful to-day one may be successful to-morrow. Chances in sweeps are as in horseracing, " somebody must lose, somebody must win." One thing, however, is undoubtedly manifest, and that is the Tasmanian postal revenue will suffer considerably if sweep promotion is annihilated by the Commonwealth prohibiting the delivery of letters.