BOXING CONTROL

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 167, 16 July 1924, Page 9

BOXING CONTROL

— » AUCKLAND CENTRE MEETS. INAUGURAL, YEAR'S WORK. The first annual conference of the Auck- '. land Boxing Centre was held yesterday : afternoon, when there were present: Messrs. R. J. Coates (chairman), J. H. Watts (Dargaville), T. Sampson (Centre), ! K. Kelly (Whangarei), 11. Hampton ■ (Frankton), J. H. Kinnear (Centre), C. Sanders (N.8.A.), R. P. Bennett (Centre). ' G. Hodgson (N.8.A.). A. H. Gyllies (Waihi : and Franklin I, and the honorary secretary, i; Mr. M. J. Flynn. A financial statement showed that there I, was a credit balance of £31 4/7 on the year's operations. ,' The committee presented a report or their ■ [ activities for the first year of the inaugu- ' ration of the centre system of control under the rules of the New Zealand Boxing Association. The centre was appointed by ' the New Zealand Boxing Council. During the past twelve mouths tbe sport had been well catered for by the affiliated associa- 1 : tions within the district, seven permits for , carnivals having been granted to the j Northern Boxing Association, four to Waihi, I' two each to Taneatua and Bay of Plenty, I and three to Taumarunui. In addition to ''■ the associations named', associations had ' been formed at Pukekohc, under the title of the franklin Association, and also at ' Frankton Junction. The latter body was ' granted a charter subsequent to the Hamil- ' ton Boxing Association being struck from ; the list of affiliated associations. The allegation made by the existing council that the amateur sport was not being catered for In the manner originally intended required explanation and' repudiation, failing which it would appear that measures wore ■ likely to be taken whereby a duplicate set I of associations might he born to control amateur boxing and tbe existing associations be declared professional promoting ] bodies. With the centre's knowledge of ~ the difficulties experienced and overcome. I and the untiring efforts of associations to 1 promote amateur boxing, it seemed that | the associations within the province should leave no stone unturned to combat any j action which would hinder associations I from promoting and encouraging tbe amateur side of sport. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. The committee for the ensuing year was elected as follows: —Messrs. Bush, Bennett, Coates, Kinnear and Sampson. Reference to the latter portion of the report was made by Mr. Gyllies, who stressed the necessity for voicing a protest at the annual conference at Wellington | against the opinion expressed by the Boxing Council that too much attention was being paid to the professional side of the sport, and not enough to the amateur. Mr. Gyllies characterised this as "spalderdash." It would appear that the members of the 1 council were piqued. Associations had been given to understand that representa- i tions would be made to the Government to ■ convert existing associations into p.'o- 1 moters of professional contests only. What would be the result? New Zealand I would quickly have a lot of little "porit and i bean" professionals. Associations did not want to lose the privilege of catering for amateurs, and they would ha-ve to speak up. The big associations were criticised by Mr. Hampton (Frankton Junction), who alleged that they had not encouraged the amateurs to the extent that they should have done. Apart from the championships, did they ever conduct a purely amateur eanival? No. The result was that many amateurs took the ring for the Qrst time at a championship gathering. That was not fair. The smaller associations could not afford big professional tights, and all the work of encouraging the amateurs fell on them. When an amateur showed any ability tbe big associations snapped bim up, and he was soon a professional. The • speaker had no doubt that separation would | kill amateurism, but he thought it was their duty to foster amateur boxing more j than had been done in the past. -Where a j big association would spend f 200 or £300 r on a professional fight, it would hesitate ! to spend £100 on amateurs. That was the 1 feeling in the country. In replying to Mr, Hampton. -Mr. Sanders said he bad to admit that there was a particle of truth in what had been said. However, the N.B.A. was drafting a scheme which should benefit the amateurs. Patrons in Auckland demanded a good quality contest before they would pay to gain admission, and it was extremely doubtful whether a purely amateur tournament, other than a championship gathering, would ' attract sufficient numbers to cover expenses. Private tournaments seemed to be the solution of the problem. An "open night" in any one of the city gymnasiums, promoted by the association, with trophies, admission being restricted to members of the* association and others, could be held for about ; £25. Four of these coull be held each year at a cost of only £100, and amateur boxing would be fostered to an extent not possible under the present system. It was, of course, a purely domestic question for each of the associations to deal with at is thought best. A discussion ensued as to the reasonableness or otherwise of fees payable by affiliated bodies. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Klynn for his services as honorary secretary.