LONDON PAPER’S COMMENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 11

LONDON PAPER’S COMMENT

“CHALLENGE TO BRITISH TRADITION ”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, August 5. Commenting on the ban on boxing at Rongotai College, the “Daily Mirror” says in a leading article: “Seconds out, there’s going to be an uproar. From New Zealand—country of Hillary, Everest’s conqueror—comes a challenge to the British tradition of tough sport in boys’ schools. “One of New Zealand’s leading schools is cutting out boxing because ft thinks it is bad for the boys. This will please Dr. Edith Summerskill and those who agree with her that boxing is savagery, like bear baiting or cockfighting, and ought to be stopped by law. “But most people who understand boys and boxing will think that it is a mistake. “None of the criticisms of commercialised fighting scores points against amateur boxing by boys. It is nonsense to talk of serious injury being risked with the more heavily-padded amateur gloves. “And far from brutalising boys, many of those who take on the job of preventing boys from being hoodlums will give boxing a testimonial. “Dr. Summerskill has deplored ‘crude passions.’ But everybody has them. The thing to do is to teach people to control them. Boxing does. Boys will still black each other’s eyes with or without boxing gloves.”