A NEW TATTERSALLS’.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1006, 17 June 1909, Page 5

A NEW TATTERSALLS’.

AUCKLAND BOOKMAKERS TAKE ACTION. We congratulate the Auckland bookmakers upon their very sensible action in reforming the old Tattersails’ Club, which dropped out of existence during the days when neither the State nor the Racing Clubs would recognise that the “ pencilling ” fraternity had any legal existence. Too much odium has been cast upon bookmakers as a class during the last few months, the obvious intent being to discredit the calling in the eyes of the public, and to thus pave the way for the amendment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act on lines which would leave legal betting business on the totalisator alone. That “ undesirables ” have made their appearance upon the racecourses of this country as licensed bookmakers is unquestionable. The Racing Clubs profess to have no voice in the matter, and say practically that they are compelled to license every applicant for a bookmaker’s permit who is prepared to pay the fees fixed by them. They further allege that they have no means of ascertaining whether the applicants for bookmakers’ licenses are men of good standing or otherwise. Hence our suggestion, weeks ago, when the trouble first arose, that the bookmakers should themselves take action for mutual protection, and with the further view of helping the clubs to discriminate between the honest-minded portion of the fraternity, constituting by far the larger number of bookmakers, and the “ undesirables,” who, posing as bookmakers, are really little better than spielers and confidence men. FUNCTIONS OF THE CLUB. The newly-formed Tattersalls’ Club in Auckland will, in the very nature of things, constitute a sort of Court of Honour, within the purview of which will be brought all matters affecting the bookmakers in their dealings with the clubs, as also with the general public. Membership of the new club (if we guage its objects and scope alike) will in itself afford a certificate of character, such as was offered in t'he old days, when to be a member of Tattersalls’ was regarded as the bookmakers’ hall-mark. The new club is housed in very complete premises, comprising the whole of the top floor of the large brick building situated next to the British Hotel in Durham Street. The rooms have been thoroughly renovated, and are just about ready for occupation. There is a spacious billiard-room, containing a first-class Alcock table, and ample seating accommodation of most comfortable type. Another room is given up .to reading and writing purposes, and a third will be used for recreative purposes. As a first step towards vindicating an aspersed profession, the Club authorities have sent in a list of

their members to the Auckland Racing Club, and will guarantee each of them to the extent of £lOO. This gauranteeing of bookmakers is certainly a step in the right direction, as it will largely do away with the welshing fraternity on racecourses. Should the A.R.C. decide to recognise the Club, it may be taken for granted that the undesirable class will soon be a thing of the past, and we shall have with us a class of pencillers reminiscent of the olden days. A similar institution has been on the point of formation in Wellington for some time past, but so far has not materialised. The successful establishment of the Auckland Club should help in the formation of simliar institutions elsewhere.