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Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 212, 6 September 1924, Page 21

; Three fights for three wins is Havilah ; Uren's recent record in New Zealand i (says a writer in the Melbourne "Bport- . ing Globe"). He arrived back a few | days ago after a five months' stay in J Wellington.. "It was not because I did , not like' New Zealand that -I re- ! turned," he said, "for I had a splendid time there. I came back because I want Imy chance at the light-weight title. 1 1 am fighting better than ever before," he said. "In New Zealand I had victories , over Harry Stone, Tommy Fairhall and Eugene Volaire." Uren was greatly \ impressed by the fighting prowess of the \ big New Zealand, amateur Chris McCrae. IHe considers McCrae could win the Australian championship if. he.liked to ' turn pro. "McCrae is the outstanding 1 figure in New Zealand as far as boxing is concerned," said the light--1 weight. "There are other good heavyweights," he added, "although most of ! them axe amateurs. There is a young ' Russian ■ named Plumas, who has the ' makings of a fine fighter." The writer has been taken to task '. by '"Cestus," boxing scribe of the Christchurch "Star." It was suggested in this ' column a few weeks ago that a Wellington v. Auckland amateur tourna- ' jment would do much to remove misap- ', prehension concerning the alleged failure .of associations to encourage amateurs, and their alleged partiality to \ professional pugilists. "Cestus" does not like this. He says: "It is just as well to stick to fac*e, and .not present a distorted version xf what has been 1 said. The New Zealand Boxing Council, which recently rssigned, so far as I am aware, never suited that associations had not catered for amateurs, but - that the New Zealand Association, which was constituted on an amateur j basis, was now primarily concerned in I the promotion of professional fights, and ■ therefore could no longer be considered an amateur organisation. There are 1 many associated with* Dominion boxing wfio are unable to see, or refuse to see, anything contrary to amateur ethics in a body promoting professional sport calling itself an amateur organisation." i "Cestus" is, apparently, one of those j who has never given the matter much thought. How can any association hope Ito provide reasonable facilities for amateurs without promoting professional bouts for revenue purposes, if for no other reason? Everyone knows that the j New Zealand public demands something ! more than amateur bouts for its money.; ! A purely amateur body would quickly Igo to the wall, and then where would jthe amateurs be? They would be compelled to turn professional, and we should have a lot of little two-a-penny glove artists doing no good for themselves nor for.anyone else. Aβ to the allegation made by "Cestus" that this writer has distorted the facts, it may be said that though the late lamented Boxing Council made no direct assertion to the effect that the amateurs were being neglected, that sentiment was certainly suggested, if not in so many words, at least by strong inference. The truth is not always pleasant, and ] though this writer did not mention the ! Boxing Council in his original para- ' graph, the Southern . scribe was not {slow to place the cap on a head which {looked like errjjng ifc V"

from greens with soft grasses, this, no doubt, contributed in no small measure to the moderate scoring. Rough weather s was, of course, in evidence on the day -of the qualifying rounds, and the tees being back to championship length, perhaps some measure of excuse can be offered under these headings. The semi-finale of the amateur events were marked by good matches. O. Wilson, of the Wellington Golf Club, found the present amateur champion too good, although the scores would indicate that Gosh was not on the top of his game. T. H. Horton, the Wellington provincial champion and runner up in the New Zealand championship, proved too good for R. M. George, of Auckland. Reports show that George had the lead to the turn, but failed to withstand the finishing effort of his opponent, having to admit defeat on the last green after a great battle. Horton is a.delightful type of golfer, having grand knowledge of the game and fine command of all his shots. His swinsj is free and clean, and he hits the ball in a crosp, decisive manner.. At the present time he must be considered as right in the forefront of New Zealand amateurs. ' The final was won by Horton, who defeated Goes 7 up and 5 to play. Horton "was quite holding his own from the tee, and was the steadier of the two the morning round finishing 3up in his favour. Goss never appeared at home on the course, and had he encountered stronger opposition in the earlier rounds would probably have succumbed. " However, he is a grand fighter, and one may rest assured that he will take a good deal of disposing of invthe big amateur test at Auckland. H. W. Macfarlane's. fine round of 71 at Middiemore will, I opine, rank among the best returned throughout the New Zealand championships. He is a member of the Christchurch 'dub, and enjoys a low handicap, but his score must rank as one of the beet he has returned. The records show him as a competitor at Wanganui last year, but his game at that time hardly suggested him as capable a player as the aforementioned score indicates. He is one of the j younger school, and it is pleasing to see j this visitor so early striking brilliant I form. c ' ' ■_- j Maunfcakiekie advanced its club cham- < pionship another stage at >the week-end, j E. L. Bartleet decisively "defeating H. A,! Joyce 6up and 4 to play. Bartleet was also successful in the Taylor Bowl competition semi-final, defeating H. L. Robson to a like tune. One hardly expects these players to meet in semi-finals other than on the tennis courts, the pair being the New Zealand champion doubles combination. Bartleet is rapidly coming to the fore as a golfer, and merely needs to restrain himself from a desire to overliit from the tee to advance still further. Joyce was apparently outclassed,, not being as able an exponent as the victor, but he will perhaps find recompense in hivvictory of the previous week over R. O.Gardner. Robson, who was Bartleet's other victim, plays from j the 12 mark and has put up a splendid I performance in getting so far in a match j play competition. He is liot altogether j overburdened with the. science of the ' game, but.hits a splendid ball from the' tee, and when able to view the came]