LONDON'S GREAT CLUBS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2089, 25 May 1907, Page 1

LONDON'S GREAT CLUBS.

"INC* IS DONE

The'influences wielileil by the gictit political clubs of London cannot be over-estimated. Before now Cabinets 1,-ave been made and unmade m the smoking-rooms of the Carlton and the Reform, and even in this democratic age a great deal of wire-pulling is done from the West Laid clubs. The Carlton was founded in 1832 by a number of Conservative noblemen and gentlemen who \yere alarmed by the Reform ttfU of that year, It was

to be tho last- bulwark of the aristocrats’ liberties, and a place of refuge when tho Liberal tide had overwhelmed the rest of England. The eighteen hundred members—the present strength of the club, —have each paid an entrance . fpc o.f £4Q, in addition to an annual subscription of eleven miineas for town members and ten guineas for country.

Five years after the birth of the Carlton, its great rival, file Reform, came into existence, iiiul, curiously enough, the premises were taken nextdoor to the Carlton, in Fall Mall. No difficulty was experienced in securing desirable candidates, and from the start, it assumed the leading position among Liberal dubs, The; entrance fee is the same as the Carlton, but the annual subscription is a uniform

one of ten guineas, ami 1400 gentlemen are now on its roll of membership. Election to either of these clubs is both a difficult and tedious matter. Eldest- sons of peers and members of Parliament are' allowed to come up at once for balloting, but less favored mortals must wait from ten to twenty years before a vacancy occurs, and even then election is by no means certain. It has been said that many

men liavo spent thousands ol pounds to obtain a seat ill Parliament, with the solo object of qualifying to stand immediately lor election to the Carlton or Reform. Most ancient of party organisations, but fast losing its political complexion, is Brooks’, in St. James*' street, Founded in 1764, it became famous as the rendezvous of Sheri-, dan, Fox', and the Prince of Wales, who afterwards became George IV. In those days it was the principal ginning club in town. Fortunes were lost and ...won in a single night, and often Fox camp from t' o House of Commons after making a great speech to Ipse thousands by daybreak. Today Brooks’ is more social than political, and prominent members of tlio Government and the Opposition are members. When elected an entranco foe of thirty guineas is pay Pile, together, with an annual subscription of eleven guineas.

TJie Devonshire, is described as Liberal, hut several prominent members sit in Opposition in both Houses of Parliament. It is a comparatively recent institution, being founded in 1875, but it lias no fewer than 1200 members, who pay ten guineas a year each for the privilege.

In point of numbers the Constitutional is the greatest of clubs. No fewer than 6500 Conservatives are on its, roll and although the entrance fee varies between fifteen and twenty guineas, the annual subscription is tlie comparatively small one of seven guineas for town members and four guineas for country. What this institution is to the Conservatives the National Liberal is to tlie party now in office. Founded in 1882 by Mr. Gladstone, it now possesses 6000 members, including over 300 members of Parliament—a record number for any London club. The subscription is six guineas, double that paid by country members. Owing to the Home Rule split in the eighties, the entrance fee was abolished.