SYDENHAM CLUB INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 918, 10 September 1910, Page 6

SYDENHAM CLUB INQUIRY.

: ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL.'; .." ' (By. Telegraph.—Press Association.),.; Christchurch, September 9/ The !. inquiry. concerning, the ma-nage-nierit of ,the Sydenham Working Men's Club was resumed to-day.-',--■' ;•-;;. "; ■ .Mr! T.G. Russell, counsel for responidehtsj said.the.club had been establish'ed'thirty years; and. up to'the present there' had-been noi suggestion '.of. scandal.: Petitioners had called only one re-; 'sideot, near thV club to .show that the conducts, of; the, club ■ was lax, and evl■denco of; residents had; been given.,, to the.contfary. Avery, had. got;;into , trouble' in tfe.clubj by insulting a mem;ber, and had handed bis grievance; over' 'to' the Prohibitionists.' The "club'sbooks.' ; .showed that on, the : av.erage 100 persons a day jhad.,been served' it ihe club bar, and' only seven.had to be;dealt'with, by ; ■ .'the committee for':intemperance in;two. ' years.; "He, submitted.! tkere.had. never, been .gambling :ai' the 'club.' '■:.: He' had nothingi'to say-in favour 'of'.the.locker system.. ■;-.':"-,- ':y.\- : :'/,i ;.' ;••;". y'M-'v.v ;, Mr. J;;A.'Flesher,; for v the v petition-, fCrsJ 'said he-had not; called .the wives and;..children most ydeeply , concerned, ibecause they -yvould;not give evidence in; open'.; Court. .He '-'. contended that'V'the charges,had'been substantially proved.. Losers at cards shouted drinks for the winners.' ; had.- been'. con'diiQtedoh the club' premises, ;aud there' •had been' Sunday.. drinking, : forty \ men; on an-a^eiage.consumihgi.tnirty.gallons' of L beer.'every Sunday.:■.;• During .the(last: two- years'rieady. £50 'a',week' had been' spent.on .^liquor, 60^0r;70. ; ' gular-.;,'. attendants:.. must.' hajvo ' - - ispent.': -more ;';a;'week,'each/:'.:Tho' ; club's chief 'object.;was ; to: supply '. cheap liquor, ia-nd : 9'o per. cent.' ofthe.receipts, were ;froin .'liquor -V;-..' "-'"-iU ?'■■'■