THE FIGHT PROMOTER NOT WANTED IN BOXING AUCKLAND EXHIBITION CONTESTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 8

THE FIGHT PROMOTER NOT WANTED IN BOXING AUCKLAND EXHIBITION CONTESTS.

t Interviewed by a Post reporter today, Mr. R. M'Villy, chairman of the Wellington B.oxing Association, made a statement regarding the telegram published in yesterday's Post concerning the cancellation of the police permit to hold six big boxing contests at the Auckland Exhibition. The statement, remarked Mr. M'Villy, made on behalf of the syndicate that it entered into an arrangement with the Northern Boxing Association under which private individuals were to be permitted to control boxing, contrary to the provisions of the Police Offences Act, was not in accordance with fact, so far as it concerns the concurrence of the New Zealand Boxing Council and the Wellington Boxing Association. Mr. M'Villy added that during last session n. deputation of persons interested in the control of boxing in New Zealand waited on the Minister for Justice, and urged that alterations be made in the present control, in order to prevent the Northern Bpxing Association from committing a breach of the Police Offences Act. Later, Mr. Mitchell, who represented the syndicate, was in Wellington on the same business. He saw the chairman of the Wellington Boxing Association, who also acts as representative in Wellington of the New Zealand Boxing Council. The position that had arisen was discussed, and Mr. Mitchell was distinctly informed that neither the New Zealand Boxing Council nor the Wellington Boxing Association would countenance for a moment the arranyement that had been entered into between the Northern Boxing Association and the syndicate. Such .arrangement was distinctly illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Police Offences Act. Mr. Mitchell promised that he would, immediately on his return to Auckland, forward to the chairman of the Wellington Association and the council's representative a. copy of the contract that he (Mr. Mitchell) asserted had been entered into between the Northern Association and the syndicate. Mr. Mitchell then requested the chairman of the Wellington Association to stay his hand until he received a copy of the contract. This was agreed to, but Mr. Mitchell was told distinctly that under no circumstances, contract or no contract, would the New, Zealand Council or, the Wellington Association agree to allow the "tight promoter" to come into the control of the sport at all. POLICE COMMUNICATED WITH. Mr. Mitchell, added Mr. M'Villy, did not carry out his promise, and up to date 'he (Mr. M'Villy) 'had not seen or heard any further from him. In the interval, however, he (Mr. M'Villy) had been keeping a very close watch on the proceedings of the Northern Boxing Association and Mr. Mitchell's syndicate, with a view to taking that action which was necessary when the proper time arrived. Learning recently that a permit had been issued by the Northern Boxing Association for contests to be held on. the 11th and 13lh April, and knowing -that these contests were to be run for the syndicate by the Northern Association, he (Mr. M'Villy) at once took action ond communicated with the Minister for JusVce and the Commissioner of Police, with the result that the permits were withdrawn , Yesterday Mr. M'Villy sent a long message to the' secretaiy of the New Zealand Boxing Council, Christchurch, denying some of the allegations contained in the telegram published through the Press Association, and setting out the whole position.