On this subject Mr. Stanley Thorn, secretary of the Billiards Association and Control Council, writes to us:—"I do not think there is any foundation in fact for the adverse criticism of the revised Snooker Rules. The statement that these Rules are ' unintelligible ' reflects adversely upon the intelligence of the persons making such statement, but it is perfectly natural, when a new code of rules is introduced, that a certain amount of confusion should arise until players have had time to become familiarized with their provisions, and to forget the obsolete usages in vogue under the old codes."
There has been much said (by Smith, Inman, and others) and much written in sporting and other papers during the month about the supposed intention of the Billiards Association and Control Council to make certain empirical alterations alike in, the table markings and in the rules. Any kind of shot on or off either ball was to have the same scoring value, the size of the baulk semi-circle was to be reduced, and the white was to come up on the baulk centre spot. This is all very interesting, but it now appears that the only people who had heard nothing about it until they saw it in the newspapers are the members of the Billiards Association and Control Council themselves, one of whom writes to The Billiard Player as follows:— "No suggestion or proposal to alter the Rules, table, size of the D, or anything of that nature has been before the Council. No change is contemplated or—I think I may say —would be seriously considered, as there seems to be no reason for it at present. You would be doing a service to the Council if you put something of this sort prominently in your March number."