BOXING ALTERATION OF RULES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 4

BOXING ALTERATION OF RULES

PROPOSALS DISCUSSED BY LOCAL CENTRE Mr. R. W. M'Villy presided over a meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Boxing \ Association held last evening. Other members present were : Messrs. Fordham, E. Blundell, Guise, Cooper, Dawson, Smith, Coffee, and W. G. Talbot. The New Zealand Boxing Council forwarded details of the result of the mail vote taken on matters dealt with at the Timaru Conference. Returns had been received fiom the Northern, Gisborne, Wanganui, Wairarapa, Wellington, Greymouth, Denniston, Millerton, Christchurch, Timaiu, Otago, and Southland Associations. With regard to representation at New Zealand Championships, the question was : "Do you favour that no competitor shall represent a centre at the New Zealand championship meeting unless he has resided in that centre for at least a month prior to the date of the meeting ; but that he shall be eligible to represent any other centre provided the consent of his own association is obtained ?"— All voted "yes" with the exception of Wellington, which favoured the first part, but voted "no" to the second ; and Southland, which voted "no" to. the first part, and approved of thfe* latter, provided, however, that the following words be added after the word "obtained" : "Such consent not to be withheld unless his association requires his services." To the question as to whether a definition of the term "clean break" be added to rules, such term to mean that each competitor shajl step back a pace, the Wangauui and Wellington Associations were, of opinion that two hands free were sufficient to constitute a clean break. With the exception of the Northern Association, it was agreed that the maximum expenses allowed a professional boxer resident in New Zealand should be £15, and an amateur, travelling expenses and board in accordance with the present rule. The Northern Association disagreed with the second poition of the question. All associations favoured steps being taken to make it absolutely definite that no individual shall be permitted to profit from the promotion of contests or competitions. Seven associations voted in favour of the question "That steps be taken to secure the appointment of a legally constituted body to govern the sport, such body to work in conjunction with the council, which shalh remain as at present conßtitute'd ; and that the authority so ! appointed shall consist of the Minister of Justice, the Commissioner of Police, and a person appointed by the council. "—The Wellington Association was of the opinion that "if the council is so constituted as to deal with this position no Ministerial control is necessary." The Northern and Southland Associations voted "no," while Otago was opposed to Ministerial control. All favoured the proposal that the 1914 [ championship meeting bo held in Wanganui. In connection with the voting on the above matters several rules will require revising, and proofs were submitted, and considered. An alteration that "a person or body is liable to suspension or disqualification, for any act which is considered by the governing body to be against the interests of the sport" was agreed to, also that a new clause be added to provide that suspensions can be imposed only by centres. The deletion of 'clause D, general rules, No. 1 : "The annual meeting of local associations shall be held in March" was opposed. It was agreed "that the weights for the professional championships be as follow : Bantam, Bst 61b and under j feather, 9st and under ; light, 9st 91b and under ; welter, lOst 71b and' under ; middle, list 61b and under ; mid-heavy, 12st -71b ; heavy, any weight. These are now the English and Australian weights. With regard to the proposed addition of a clause to the amateur championship rules "making it compulsory on the part of the judges to select a winner in each bout," it was considered that if the judges were unable to select a winner the referee should decide. The proposal that the diameter of the ring be altered from 24 feet to 20 feet did not meet with approval. It was decided to favour the addition to clause J, "Competitors and Seconds," "that a competitor applying any foreign substance to his body of an oily or greasy nature shall be compelled to removo the substance, and shall be liable to be fined a sum not to exceed £2." It was also agreed that a clause be added to the effect that any person failing to compete after entering for an event, or being matched, shall be liable to suspension. A letter was received from the Now Zealand Council stating that owing to lack of interest on tho part of local associations no further action would be taken in the matter of holding a conference of referees at Auckland. The Chairman announced that the City Council was again desirous 'of having a boxing tourney in connection with tho coming Easter Carnival, as had been provided by the association last year. It was the unanimous opinion of those present that this tourney be again provided, and the question of bouts was discussed. Several suggestions for matches were put forward, including Ireland versus Lowe, or Cooke versus Maxwell. Also bouts provided by boxers from the Navy, Permanent Artillery, and Boys' Institute.