BILLIARD PLAYING AND SPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2176, 4 September 1907, Page 1

BILLIARD PLAYING AND SPORT

[To the Editor.]

Sir.—My lotter in your 'columns of tho 30th. ult, seems to have started a very interesting discussion, in which I am sorry to see the question o) expectoration upon the footpath is being lost sight of. I am, however, pleased to find that it has evo'ked a reply from a Borough Councillor upon the question of sport in general and tho refused billiard room license in particular. On the latter subject he is joined by “A Lover of Young Men” and perhaps it would he convenient to refer to both letters while commenting upon the one. I infer from the the 110 m do plume subscribed to the latter letter and from the fact that its writer considers one of the priciple functions of a young man is to train to become a. “model husband”, that she is a lady, and this probably accounts for the grandmotherly view of billiards and billiard rooms taken by your correspondent. As before mentioned, I am not a billiard player and do not even know Air. Segedin by sight, and therefore may express my views upon the subject without the suspicion attaching itself to me that I hold a brief for that) gentleman. It is no doubt shocking that young men when budding into manhood do undoubtedly like to leave the maternal fireside frequently of an evening and congregate with their fellows for social intercourse and a game of billiards or something else, but since this seems to be the tendency is it not wise to rather direct it aright then to .try and check it, and possibly divert it into more harmful channels. This principle seems to he recognised by the organisers of the Young Men’s Christian Association and kindred organisations throughout the world, as a billiard room is almost invariably found in these institutions. Tho “Gisborne” and other clubs in our town boast of well equipped billiard rooms and a large membership of some of tho most respectable young men) in the town, are wo therefore to infer that gambling and vice are famiJant within the walls of ,theser.clubs and that tho members are going headlong to perdition? If-young mien taro led intodiabits of:gambling by going I to these billiard rooms, as Mr. Somer-

veil implies, is not -this yet another condemnation of tlio manner in which tlio City Fathers see tlioir own byelaws administered, for having grantod a license it surely is tlieir duty through the police to see that tlio billiard rooms are properly conducted. While no doubt there are some youths so unevenly balanced, that billiards exercise an unduly] iasoiinatiug influence upon them, the same thing aplies to almost every recreation or hobby, and its socms wiser to me to teach our youths to restrain themselves and resist temptation rather than remove temptation wholly from tlioir path. B.v doing this character may he moulded and strengthened rather than weakened by tlio other more feminine course.

I fear that I am trespassing too much upon your sjiace, but before I close let -me congratulate Mr. Somervell on his statement that ho loves ■clean manly sport. So do I, but I do not think t/hat a few accidents in the football field are. an indication that the game is not properly conducted, in fact, these very accidents in my ojiinion tend to develop courage, endurance of pain, and tenacity of purpose, while tlio game itself should develop clean living and strengthen liiuselo and mind. As Waterloo was said to have been won on the playing fields at Eton so will the Empire’s future battles, and perchance Armageddon bo won on the present playgrounds of the nation. Let us therefore encourage and maintain clean and manly sport—even if our boys do let it run away witli them some-times-—but. let us keep out the hideous taint of professionalism in any shape whether in football, sculling or any other games lest we become a weak, effeminate and falling Rome watching hired gladiators fight while we are too indolent or cowardly to do so. —I am, etc., COMMON SENSE.