NO BILLIARDS ALLOWED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 8

NO BILLIARDS ALLOWED.

THE SAILORS' MISSION HALL.

MINISTERS' FUTILE APPEAL. The objections raised to the placing of a billiard table in the mission hall of the Sailors' Home were ventilated again last evening, when a deputation from the Auckland " Ministers' Association, consisting of the Revs. W. Gray Dixon (Presbyterian), W. Ready (Methodist), and L. S. Griffiths (Congregational), waited upon the Sailors' Home Council to urge the retention of the table in the hall. Mr. Gray Dixon pointed out that the Wellington, Lyttelton, and Bluff Sailors' Homes all had billiard tables. He had also learnt from a Roman Catholic sailor, who came from New Orleans, that the sailors' home in that city, run by the Catholic Church, not only bad a billiard table, but that the clergy played on it with the sailors. Mr. Gray Dixon urged the need of having something in the shape of innocent amusement for Bailors who came ashore. He expressed his astonishment at anv objection being raised by the council. Billiard tables, as far as he knew, were provided in every sailors' home. The Rev. G. B. Monro and himself had informed the president of the council, Mr. Potter, of the proposed introduction of the table in the hall, and they had understood he approved of the suggestion. Immediately the Ministers' Association had decided upon having a table, a deputation had waited upon Mr. Potter, and he had given them the impression that the council would not raise any objection. Mr. Ready said the Ministers' Association had voted £5 towards the cost of the table. Mr. Ralph, the superintendent, had stated that the sailors fully appreciated the providing of the table. The deputation then withdrew. Mr. E. H. Potter (the chairman) then explained his action in the matter, being somewhat taken to task by some of the members. . . : .

Mr. T. Harle Giles was of opinion that the whole difficulty had arisen through the clergy not applying to the council for the installing of a, billiard table in the first place. The Ministers' Association should have applied to the whole council, not to some individual member of it. Mr. P. J. Nerheny said the.mission hall should be for mission purposes only; the social hall was for recreative purposes. There was plenty of room in the social hall for amusements, without having to put billiard and bagatelle tables into the mission hall, and also obtain a license for a diningroom. He regretted very much that the Ministers' Association, which at the present time was loud in its condemnation of billiard saloons, and was asking Parliament for their suppression, should be in - favour -. of turning < the mission hall into a billiard saloon.-

I The secretary read a petition from 400 seamen and firemen on vessels visiting Auckland, protesting against the removal of the billiard table from the mission hall. They stated that in every other sailors' home there : was a billiard table. ,

Mr. E. Phipps said he understood there was not one seaman in the home who signed the petition. As the seconder of the motion for the removal of the table, he intended to stand firm. He did not object to the sailors playing billiards in the home. r but he did not believe in the house of God being desecrated. I Dr. King said there was no doubt whatever that the table should be shifted to the social room. • Most of the men were blocked after eight p.m.» from going into the mission hall to have a game. He moved,* "That after hearing the arguments put forth by the representatives of the Ministers' Association in support of \ the retention of the v billiard" and bagatelle "tables in the , mission hall, the council does not see its way to alter its previous decision, but again expresses its willingness to allow the billiard and bagatelle tables to be placed in the social '\ hall- of the home, ; where they may be used,, not only bv the 'inmates "of the home, but alio by sailors• frequenting the port." ' - j ■; * u Mr. Nerheny seconded the motion, which, on being put to the meeting, "j was carried unanimously. '"'':'■' r " :: \^ : '\ 7 '