BILLIARD SALOONS.

NZ Truth, Issue 147, 11 April 1908, Page 4

BILLIARD SALOONS.

The prominence m print that the Wellington daily press have always given to that pastmastcr of public posing, J. J. North, seems to have emboldened that cranky cleric into making of himself a perfect nuisance. The more publicity he receives the greater does his arrogance become, and we doubt not that as a further consequence he "plays" to large "audiences" every Sabbath m his Vivian-street -bethel, where one is weekly assured the best scats aro reserved for the liberal "offering" giving stranger. The mistake made by quite a number of easily led and easily gulled people is m taking this miserable ranter at his own valuation, and there again, having quite a "following," North, apeing the Jawful Judkins of Melbourne, has assumed the role of public censor, and not a social question arises than that the notorious noodle is led to making not only a nuisance of himself, but a perfect ass, whose all-round ignorance of the subjects upon which he attempts to air his opinion is only equalled by his blatant egoism and confounded cheek. Were this little man to be- studiously ignored by the daily press, each time he sets out to seek a cheap advertisement the poor little fellow's social purity stocks would suffer a serious slump ; np "one knows this 'better than ; the cleric mountebank who would willingly be scourged and publicly pilloried- rather than be completely suppressed. If North is so scrupulous m his "moral endeavor" abtitudinisings let him as a social reformer seek some suit-^ able electorate and on social' reform lines, woo the. constituents, and! by their 'verdict abide — as he would at the bottom of the poll. , A general election is approaching, and if North imagines that he is voicing the opinion of any sane section of the com,munity, let him try for Parliament, then he might, if successful, be entitled to respect, because now either as a citizen or a cleric, none, from responsible Ministers of the Crown to the humblest of liberal-minded electors, have any time or serious consideration for the noisy, re-actionary ranter. .These few observations are forced from "Truth" because North and his nasty little satellites have been on. the job again. This time the bill iard-r com keepers of the city have been singled 'out for a fine display of North's rancourous but "ratty" rhodomontades.' These saloons have been pictured to the City Council as dens of infamy. They are represented as being the resort of the undesirables of a city, but the major offence consists m the fact that one saloon is owned by two individuals who are book-nvakers. The saloon keepers, according to North, encourage gambling on a game known as pool, m fact, as one would naturally suppose, when the charitable and christian • North gives anyone a character, they are low-down ■ ruffians who have long forfeited any claim to respectability. On the other hand, tlie saloon-keepers who have to pay an extraordinarily heavy rental, have asked the City Council of Wellington to extend the time of closing from 10 till 11 p.m. The deputation of very reputable, clean-living citizens who control billiard-saloons m this city, and who waited on the City Council on Thursday evening last, displayed' what North lacked, com-mon-sense, good taste, and a respectable demeanor. Their application was based on good argument, m fact, they presented a good case. Said North m answer to extend the time would be monstrous. Why ? Because the ."hotel crowd," with beer bottles bulging cut of their pockets, would flock to these saloons. Moreover, urged North, there was a lack of police or municipal supervision, and oh the question of the extension of the closing hour the saloon-keepers were divided. Now, this pest and pimjp North is ndfcori-ous for bis exaggerating proclivities, m less particular circles half his statements would be more emphatically, and perhaps pertinently classified. The police of Wellington have no fault whatever to find with the manner, m which these saloons are controlled. Can North give within the last two years three instances where vagrants, spielers, thieves, or any of the criminal classes have consorted m these saloons? He cannot, nor can the police. Billiards is a pastime providing to many practically homeless men recreation for an hour or two nightly. They are comfortable, clean, and cosy. It is to the managerial interest that the rooms "should be kept free from spongers, loafers, or any of the parasitical class, and for any saloon-keeper tolerating drunkenness or even gambling on his premises, would be to instantly court disaster. As for the gamble' m pool, North does not know what he is talking about. Probably he does not know what pool is, and until he learns he should keep a still tongue, a task impossible with this economically speaking, parasitical parson. The fact that the control of these saloons is a credit .to the keepers and to Wellington generally ought to appeal to the City Councillors ; the iiact that such high rentals • are paid,' and that m other cities the hour of 11 p..m. is fixed as the closing hour, will, "Truth" rests assured, find more favor with the City Fathers, than North's nasty vile insinuations, that seem to be the outcome of a diseased mind and powerful imagination.