"A DECENT PRICE."

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 75, 28 March 1924, Page 7

"A DECENT PRICE."

FOR A DECENT FIGHT. LAX PUBLIC SUPPORT. OTAGO ASSOCIATIONS DIFFICULTIES. (by Telegraph.—Special to "Star.'k DUN'EDIX, Thursday. At last night's meeting of the Otago Boxing Association the chairman (Mr. F. J. Campbell) said with regard to the .tournaments that the public was very lax in its support. It seemed very loth to pay a '"decent price for a decent fight." The executive had difficulty at first, as only two or three men had had previous experience in conducting tournaments, but both the South Island and New Zealand championships had been carried out very well. They have been impressed by the style of .T. Leckie (flyweight), Dunedin, and R. D. Pascoe (lightweight), West Coast, at the New Zealand championship contests, and if funds had permitted they would have been sent to compete at the Olympic Games. The New Zealand championship had proved a more difficult matter, but Auckland and Taumarunui sent down teams of men, and the boys of the Otago Sports' Club had taken part, lie wished to thank them for their assistance at that time. The fact that Wellington and Hawke'a Bay bad withdrawn from .the New Zealand championships last year had had a detrimental effect on the finances, but they had not lost on it.

The president also referred to the valuable services of Mr. 11. L. Humphreys, the referee, who had carried out his duty in a most satisfactory and capable manner. The lion, secretary (Mr. H. W. Franklin) had also proved to be the right man in the right place.

Mr. T. M. Gillies offered his congratulations to the officers on their work during the year. He expressed regret that practically no mention had been made in the report of the association's disqualification—an illegal disqualification—and its subsequent reversal by the New Zealand Council. The late executive had resigned voluntarily in the interests of the sport, and a new executive had been elected. The new executive had carried out its work during the year very well, but the late executive felt that some reference to its services should have been made.

In reply to an insinuation that certain members had not been treated fairly, the president said that he did not care who the man was he had always endeavoured to give him a fair deal. With regard to the old executive, they had heard so much about it that lie personally thought it was better to let the matter drop. As the disqualification had been removed there was nothing to ibe gained by bringing the question up again.