George Gray returned to Sydney in March, after an absence of two years and nine months, by the P. & O. R.M.S. "Moldavia," in company with his father, Harry Gray, sen., under whose management he is now playing in Australia. In conversation with an interviewer, he said he could not speak too highly of his treatment in England.
The hospitality of the English and Continental people was unbounded, and he was going back again with his father.
The whole Gray family would live in England.
"So you are satisfied all round?"
"Yes. The tour just completed has been successful from every point of view. The critics were fair to us, and the audiences splendid. There was no interruption during any of the games. There were big houses at all my games, which shows that the 'all red' stroke has not lost its drawing power. They told us that these games were records so far as attendance is concerned. Take those three games with Mr. Stevenson. We played 24 sessions to a packed house on every occasion."
"Are they practising the 'red' stroke in England?"
"Yes. There are many young players coming along, and they are all trying it. I might mention the names of Smith, Falkiner, and Taylor. Inman, Harverson, and Diggle are among those who are trying to block it. But they can't succeed, as it is the key of billiards."
"Who is the best player in England to-day?"
"Oh, Stevenson. You see he is really an unbeaten champion."
"But you are the champion?"
"Well, they give me that title, I suppose, but really there is no champion of the world. It isn't possible for a man to come out with a challenge for the world's championship.
You can't do it, for the reason that the tournament method prevents any such a challenge. It isn't right by any manner of means. This tournament business is not the right thing.
For instance, an Australian may claim the title. He has to play through a tournament before he can reach the man he wants. And then the conditions are not fair again, because the champion only meets his man after the tournament. In other words, there is no such thing as an open championship of the world so far as billiards is concerned."
"What are your movements in Australia?"
"Well, I am going back to England in July or August, but in the meantime will play T. Aiken, the Scottish champion, at Melbourne on April 21. The Sydney season will begin on May 12."
George Gray then spoke about a trip through Africa, Egypt, India, and the Continent, which was successful except for an attack of ptomaine poisoning in Egypt. At present he is in the pink of condition, and is no longer the boy in knickers.