" FOR GOOD OF THE SPORT."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1909, Page 2

" FOR GOOD OF THE SPORT."

A BOXING MATTER. In a letter to the New Zealand Boxing Council, written on behalf of the Wellington Boxing Association, the^ secretary of the latter body remarks' that "it having been affirmed that the visit of Burns to New Zealand is advisable from an educative point of view, associations should not receive any recompense for what they may do towards making the exhibitions a success. The Wellington Boxing Association, however, is of opinion that if services are rendered by" any individual member to facilitate or assist Burns in the arrangement of his programme, that would become a personal matter between Burns and the member concerned. . . An association should not regard the visit of Burns as an opportunity to 'rake in' revenue ; any attempt to obtain, either directly or indirectly from Burns a percentage of the profits, or a donation to the funds of the association, would arouse the antagonism of certain sections of the community, and be viewed with disfavour and suspicion by that portion of the community that has, up to the present time, been friendly disposed towards the association, in recognition of the good work done by it in elevating the sport and bringing it to its present position." Air. Coffey's letter concludes by stating his association's opinion that the New Zetland Council and all affiliated councils should do all in their power, as associations, to assist a man who, indirectly, will assist them, and to do it in a disinterested and sportsmanlike way, without any expectation of receiving monetary recompense for services they may render.