BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 91, 17 April 1923, Page 10

BOXING

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION

MEETS

ENCOURAGEMENT OF 'AMATEURS,

The annual meeting of the Wellington Boxing Association was held last evening, Mr. E. Blundell presiding in the absence of the president, Mr. R. W. M'Villy.

In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, details of which have already appeared in " The Post," the chairman, said that not only was the financial result ■ of last year's activities very encouraging, but the prime object of the association, the promoting of the sport among amateurs, had met with great success. The finances of the body were in a more than satisfactory condition, the fund 3 showing an increase of £418, bringing the assets up to the £1000 mark. In the past years it was the custom to look to professionals to draw the "gates," but it was very pleasing to note that amateur tournaments, of which four had been held, were more than self-supporting. This in itself • was sufficient evidence that the. amateur side of the sport had been well catered for, and it spoke volumes for the efforts of the committee. The standard of the sport among amateurs was very high, and this was due largely to the local instructors. In this direction the capitation scheme recently introduced should still further assist. The suggestion had ,been made that the association provide a gymnasium for the free use of instructors, in return for which privilege they should apt as honorary instructors to the public schools, the pupils being allotted the use of the room on one afternoon per week. Those who attended last year's tournaments could scarcely complain of the fare provided. There had scarcely been a season in which so many meetings had been promoted to the satisfaction of enthusiasts. During the year the first North Island championships were held, and the success of the fixture justified the support extended to the proposal when. it was first mooted at the Greymouth Conference in 1922. In every probability the championships would . this year be held at Napier, and the Dominion meeting at Dunedin. The chairman then formally moved the adoption of the report.

Seconding the motion, Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., said that the year's activi 1 ties had been satisfactory, not only to the association but also to patrons. The speaker had seen contests all over the world, but none were conducted on better lines than those of the Wellington body. This applied equally to local audiences, which were exceptionally Well-behaved, and refrained, within a reasonable degree, from unsportsmanlike barracking. The success of the meetings was due to the committee, not to the men who occupied merely ornamental positions, but wholly to those who made untiring and material , efforts. The amusement tax last year had run to a very substantial figure, and there was no better way of judging the popularity of the sport, than by the amount which was taken by the Government in this particular tax. There should be no desire to alter this figure—even though it was rather heavy—since if there was any sport which could bear it, it was boxing. ' '" •

Referring to the amateur side of the sport, Mr.. Wilfor.d continued that when amateurs, took, the boards- patrons always felt sure that they were going to see a willing encounter, and that the contestants were going to do their best. This was in no way a, alur on professionals, but it was always recognised that amateurs gave of their best. The speaker concluded by expressing the hope that the association would s>e as successful in .the current year as it had been in the past. The election of officers for the ensuing year ■ resulted: Patron, Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.; president, Mr. R. W. M'Villy; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. H. Owen, J. L. Day, H. Nelson, E. Blundell, L. George, C. E. Bridge, lan Duncan, and Dr. H. J. M'Lean • committee, Messrs. R. W. M'Villy, E. A. Dawson, H. Hull, W. G. Mellish, W. M. Cook, E. Stewart, E. Perry, and N. Coffey; hon. treasurer, Mr. fi. A. Guise; hon. secretary, Mr. W. G. Talbot; hon. auditor, Mr. R. J. Aekins;hon. solicitor, Mr. W. Perry; hon. representative in Australia, Mr. W. Lawless.