MISSIONS AND BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 778, 30 March 1910, Page 9

MISSIONS AND BILLIARDS.

AN AUCKLAND SAILORS' HOME ' EPISODE. A meeting of the council of the Auckland Sailors' Home was held on Thursday evening last, when a deput,v tion was received from tha. local committee of the British . and Foreign Sailors' Society of London, consisting of the Revs. W. Gray Dixon, Woodley, North, and Ready. Mr. Gray Dixon said that although the society had much to' thank tlio council for, their ■ action of late had been perplexing and -discouraging. Lately matters hud so altered that Mr. G. H. Ralph, the society's .missioned, had sent in his resignation as a result of the limitations placed upon him. Mr. Ralph had the confidence of the committee and of tho workers and sailors .'connected with the mission, and !«s resignation was much deplored. Mr. .Ralph's-.: chief complaint was that tho council had reduced the grant - for refreshments, and on account of theirdecision against allowing a billiardtalilo to he placed in the mission hall.' The chairman (Mr. Potter) said tho council would like to know what wore the limitations placed on Mr. Ralph. • Mr. Gray Dixon explained that the grant .. for refreshments had been:. reduced, and Mr. Ralph .had.ibeen very much disappointed and discouraged at the .council's action in regard to the .Tho sailors also were much annoyed about it. - Mr. Giles: The council intimated at Uie time that they ■' would be glad to have the billiard-tablo placed in the Social room of the home.. Mr,- Dixon said the committee certainly .thought that placing it. in the social room seemed to detach it from the mission. They thought "it ought to bo in a room directly connected with the mission'. Mr. Ralph and the committee had' worked hard to raise, money for -the billiard-table, and they; thought it should he placed under their direct control. Dr. King: Supposing other societies wanted to provide tables ? Mr. Dixon: ! should say it would require common sense to bo exercised. Ajr arrangeniont could easily : be' arrived at whereby other bodies could have the use of it ■if they wished. • ' Mr, Ready - said he ' saw. nor redson why the table should riot bo placed in the mission hall;

. Mr. Nerhcny considered that, the hall set apart for religious purposos, The : 'proper place-for-the billiard-table was jii the social room. Mr.-Phipps said'tho real question ap peare'd to him -to:bo: Was billiards an .evil ? : IDr.'-King said that had, the different missions combined- thoy would "haVe helped ,tho council and enabled work to be carried on more harmoniously.' - .'Mr'. -Woblley' did not Hhink the placing' of the bijliard-tabol in the . hall 'was irreligious. . Mr., Giles " could pot see that Mri , 'Ralph had heeii given.' any ' c'auiie for | resigning. j Mr. Dixon: His reputation was at stake, and ho could .not carry- on under [ present circumstances. | -'. The chairman; It ■ amounted .to this —the ' deputation 'wanted the council to build a hall for thp billiard-table. ~ 'Mr. Dixon said that would solve the question. Ho believed 'that' tho Ministers' Association would generously assist-- in the matter of funds.' :,' " The chairman: That is a , very' reasonable and,fair oifer. no wa's glad the deputation had made . it. . It de- : served every consideration; ' ' After sonio further remarks by those present,' in which, various''little grievances in connection ' with the mission were discussed j the deputation were informed- that the- council- would take into consideration the question of having a-special -room built, attached tb' the mission-hall, for the billiard-table.