BOXING DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25298, 25 September 1947, Page 4

BOXING DISPUTE

HUTT VALLEY ADMITS FAULT

COUNCIL’S REPORT NOT READ An admission that the Hutt Valley Association was at fault in the paying of the purse in relation to the ..Bos Murphy-Willie Jones dispute Was made by Mr L. Stewart, Hutt Valley delegate and chairman of that association, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing conference which was concluded yesterday morning. The auestion arose when Mr Stewart said lat he had to leave early as he was required in Wellington in the after-

noon to give evidence before the Magistrate’s Court. He asked that if

the report of the council on the Hutt Valley dispute was read to the meet-

ing, in his absence, no discussion take place unless the Hutt Valley Association was represented and given unlimited time to state its case, The Hutt Valley Association admitted its fault in relation to the paying of purses, but if there was a discussion members would probably get a wrong impression of the affair, said Mr Stewart. He had been told in Wellington by tae council chairman, Mr J. R. Simpson, that the report was to be discussed at the meeting, but he had been taformed since by the secretary, Mr J. A. Nodwell, that the report was to be read but not discussed. “I am particularly interested in the charge, made about the fight, as I was the referee,” said Mr Stewart. “If there is to be no discussion I will be satis-

The president of the New Zealand Association, Mr G. W. Bettie, said that it was his opinion that there should be no discussion. If Mr Stewart was not to be present, he would certainly not allow a discussion of the report. Mr J. Ennis (Wanganui): We have a notice of motion regarding a special meeting in Wellington at the conCourt proceedings. Mr Bettie: The report is oh the agenda paper, and we have to do something about it. Mr Simpson said that he much preferred not to read the report. He would sooner the report were held over until the special meeting in Wellington. , * e motion of Mr Ennis, seconded by Mr A. T. Bevan, Greymouth, the report was laid on the table until the special meeting in Wellington. Simpson: To show the fairness of the council m this matter, I myself* have not even read the report except for a couple of clauses. no, S es ? (Timaru): It seems a^°.¥ n ding that Mr Simpson, chairman nnf t h^7 New x Z S? land Council, should not have read the report. Although it sounded astounding, it was true, said Mr Simpson. He had not been at the council meeting when the report was prepared. During the discussion on a proposal to incorporate the New Zealand Association, Mr Stewart said that because. o £ ‘•he association not being incorporated two members of the council had been cited as defendants in the present dispute. If the association had been incorporated the association as a body would have been cited as defendants, and not individuals. . Mr Stewart left the meeting a few minutes later.

Special Meeting Motion Carried Mr Ennis’s notice of motion that a special meeting be held in Wellington after the completion of the litigation was carried unanimously. During the period of general business later in the meeting, Mr F Brocklebank, the other Hutt Valley delegate, said that in an amateur contest held by his association, the referee had ruled that the contestants were not giving their best and had reported them to the New Zealand Association. A voice: Who was the referee? x, Brocklebank; The chairman of the Hutt Valley Association. Mr Brocklebank said one of the boxers had admitted to the referee that the bout was a frame-up, and when the other was approached about the matter he admitted it. "And yet a few months alter this, one of them applies for and is granted professional status,” said Mr Brocklebank. Mr Brocklebank then commenced to read from a statement by Mr Stewart concerning the matter, but was called to order by the secretary, who said tnat this matter was mentioned in the court proceedings and should not be discussed.

President, Mr Bettie, to Mr Brocklebank: You can not go on with tins, but you can bring it up at the Sp ™ ia i ger ?® ral meeting in Wellington. Mr Brocklebank: I was instructed by my executive to bring this matter up, out if that is the position I will leave