Saw once again the evolution of time at work, skittles being replaced by a card room and writing room, emphasis by committee-men being placed on the importation of newspapers of English origin, and any English literature which could be procured. Suggestions by committeemen “… that members should do more thinking on a common-sense basis for themselves for a change.” Greater reading facilities were suggested, billiards progressed and competition between Tattersalls and one other private club was mooted. The names of Dr. Croucher, Latham, Ward, Crawford, Ellis, Kay, Molloy, Salter, and Mulrennen, Coleman, and Morrisby were frequent in committee activities - what a growth in the club during this period of the “in between years” support from all for all. By the familiar names one wonders if present day members are sons, nephews or descendants.
The minimum age for club membership throughout these years was 17 years, and records show that the committee during this era was most fastidious and clean. So much so that a member brought along a duster for the caretaker (who was working only 67 hours a week) to dust every corner out within the club at his leisure and continuously. These members disallowed a request by the caretaker for four hours meals breaks per week. The investigation committee “… that the caretaker had very little to do after opening hours.”
The book library had maintained a high lending figure; billiards had grown in popularity; skittles had fallen by the wayside; and cards were definitely gaining in strength. When competition started in 1910, Mr. Fred Wise, a life member of this club, was a competitor and in 1913 was snooker tournament winner. His nephew Eric was in the successful Centenary Team of snooker players which won the championship this year.
Fifty-two entries from the club snooker and billiards was indeed proof of the popularity of the sport, There were 2128 financial members in 1913. When Chas. Dunn was elected to the committee in 1916, Les Ward, our present President won a competition between Hardware, West Hobart, South Hobart and Hobart Working Men’s Club. Chas. Dunn - The electric lighting was another major asset brought into being in this year, but owing to the state of the world at this time the membership figure was only 167 members. Mr. Chas. Dunn donated a Roll of Honour Board for members of the club who were members of the Expeditionary Forces at the front.
During this period there was a falling off of membership and therefore there were only 122 financial members of the club in 1925. The now traditional North versus South billiards and snooker matches were continued and one of the representative teams from this club was as follows; Billiards: Lynch, Woolford, Bartlett, Geappen, F. Turner and F. Wise. Snooker: Conlan, Martin, Scoles, Harrison and L. Ward.
