TOTALISATOR CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18805, 29 November 1932, Page 11

TOTALISATOR CLUB.

- —— RUN BY A PRIEST. £II,OOO PREMISES. A Roman Catholic priest has started a toto club in the heart of London’s dockland, says the London Daily Mail. Nearly 10 years ago Father Carless came to St. Ann’s Church, Custom House, and, building a tin hut, founded the St. Ann’s Social Club. The club now has 1200 members, including 200 women. The tin hut has been replaced by a palatini building costing £II,OOO in Berwick Road, Custom House. Father Carless borrowed the money for the new building, and is going to repay it out of the tote -proceeds. When the debt is 'cleared he will use the profits for social services, which include special educational facilities hitherto denied to the people of dockland. The club building has a dance hall and concert hall, an open-air boxing arena capable of seating 3000 pcopie, a roof garden, fully licensed bar, billiard lables, rest rooms, hot baths, an orchestra, and a kitchen. 1s Membership Fee. “Gambling is Inherent,” Father Carless said to a reporter, “and 1 am going lo provide a legal melhod tor my men so that Ihcy can get a fair deal. Orion, with street bookmakers, they never get their proper money when they win: here they must gel 90 per cent of the proceeds, which make, quite good odds. “The fee for membership is only Is, and the eommilloe are now working on a plan lo enable unemployedmen lo become members on oven betler lerms.” Wlicn 11 1 0 1010 was worked for !hc first lime —on Hie West Him greyhound meeting, I lie prices were 0 and 7 points over llic bookmakers’ odds on I lip course. For the first race il pal i I 9s ini for each unit of 2s. Father | Harless had one or Iwo bets, but did | nut win anything. j