They were all represented there—:the powers and the personalities that maintain British billiards in its high position and with whom cooperation means continued success just as division would spell disaster. There are, as Diggle (a great scoring force of the immediate past) remarked in the course of a short speech that was called for towards the end of the proceedings, billiard table manufacturers other than Messrs. Burroughes and Watts, but this was the Soho Square firm's particular affair, and handsomely they did it. Then there were the chairman of the Billiards Association and Control Council (Mr. G. N. E. Hall-Say) and other representatives of British Empire billiards administration; Mr. S. H. Fry (seven times amateur billiards champion) and other leading amateurs; Champion Newman, ExChampion Smith, and Past-Champion Inman, to whom (with Champion-to-be Falkiner, just now in Africa), the world of billiards looks (without being disappointed) for a constant exposition of the game in its highest phases; and representatives of the sporting press (in Mr. Harry Young and Mr. George Reid), to whose essential service in keeping the good billiard flag flying and in uniting all interests, including those of the vast body of the general public who follow billiards as a delightful recreation, generous testimony was paid towards the end of the successful proceedings by Mr. E. P. Lidbetter.
The occasion was a special little luncheon at Frascati's, and the immediate object was the presentation to Willie Smith, as the winner of the Burroughes and Watts Professional Tournament of the past season, of a cheque for £200, and to Tom Newman (who tied as to wins with Smith but was unable through illness to play off the final) one of £50. This, however, was not quite all, for Mr. J. R. Abbott, the managing-director of the firm (who presided), after explaining that £100 had been offered to any player who made a break in the Tournament exceeding 1,000 (which nobody did), said that he must trouble Newman to step forward again and receive an additional cheque for £100, as he had, at any rate, since made a break of 1,024 on one of their tables. As Newman resumed his seat he humorously inquired whether Mr. Abbott would be likely to want him again as he would not in the least mind being troubled in that way.
Mr. Abbott lightly referred to a published statement that the billiard firms staging matches exploited the professional players, and said that their books for the past 25 years were open to inspection and would prove that the balance of advantage was very much the other way. At the same time, that professional matches were good for the trade he readily admitted. Of the unfortunate set-backs- sustained by the Tournament he merely remarked that some of the players" absented themselves for various reasons.'' Both points were well taken up by Smith, who said the writer on '' exploitation '' should have put his name to his article, and added that he had no sympathy with professionals who '' got the needle '' when they found that they were being left behind or who objected to receiving a start because of something that they might have done ten years before. When it came to his own turn to accept a start he should take it.
Newman, in turn, made a straightforward reply and agreed with what Smith had said.
The next season, he remarked, promised well, and for his own part he should do his best to satisfy the public. Inman also spoke briefly.
Some indication of the form that next season's tournament will take had been given by Mr. Abbott, who mentioned that it would be fought on level terms by Newman, Smith, Inman, and Falkiner. There will also be a tournament for professional players at present below first rank, and it was possible that some further novel attractions would be introduced.
In a few effective words as to last season's championship trouble, the Chairman of the Billiards Association and Control Council (Mr. Hall-Say) explained that the Council found it difficult to decide who should and who should not play, as there was always the possibility of real talent amongst younger players or from abroad discovering itself, and he mentioned that next year the New Zealand professional (McConachy) was desiring to compete. He further urged that when professionals considered that matters might be managed differently it would be better to write to> the Council than to express themselves through the newspapers.
Other capital speeches were those of Mr. L. H. J. Burroughes and Mr. S. H. Fry, and after the toast of "The Press" had, as already indicated, been proposed and replied to, a very agreeable occasion came to an end with the toast of "The Chairman," proposed by Mr. J. P. Mannock.