BOXERS HONOURED

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 82, 16 October 1928, Page 16

BOXERS HONOURED

LUNCHEON TO MORGAN AND CLEVERLEY Representatives of every branch of sport were present at a luncheon .given by tho New Zealand and Wellington Boxing Associations yesterday to New Zealand's Olympic Games boxing representatives—E. Morgan and A. Clevcrley. Apologies for absence were received from the Prime Minister (tho Eight Hon. J. G. Coatcs), the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. 11. E. Holland),.tho Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), the Hon. K. S. Williams, and many others. In proposing the toast.of the guests, Air. R. W. M'Villy, the chairman, expressed tho gratification of those present at being given tho opportunity to honour the boxers "who fought to uphold the honour of the Dominion in tho world of sport. It was a very great pleasure to the controllers of boxing in New Zealand to find in Now Zealand amateur sport the amateur welterweight of the world. (Applause.) Clcverley, although he had not returned a champion, had done very well. He was run-ner-up in his weight in Ireland, and was only put out after an extra round had been ordered. ■ (Applause.) Probably ho was.unlucky at the Games. However, they could not possibly expect all tlio competitors to win. "We sent away a small team," continued the chairman, "but a team which has well and worthily represented the country." It was not expected' that all of them would win, but it was hoped to put New Zealand on the map, and he was sure they had done so. In supporting the toast on behajf of the New Zealand Boxing Association, Mr". D. R. Hoggard'said that they'we're gratified by the performance of Tom Hecney, but he thought he could safely say' that they were even more gratified by the success of ..their amateurs. (Hear,, hear.) Big as Australia was, continued Mr. Hoggard, it could not send any boxers to the Games. Now Zealand'was" able to send two boxers up to Olympic standard, and had annexed one world's championship. He thought that the returning boxers would win even more public esteem by the manly am! modest way in which they bore their laurels, and ho wished them the 'very best tho.future could hold. Thunderous . applause greeted Mr. Morgan, tho. amateur, welterweight champion of the world, when he arose to reply. "I feel," said Morgan, "more at home in boxing than I do in making speeches." He was glad to win.more on account of New Zealand than himself. The team was greatly indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Amos, who had treated them like their own sons and daughters. "Wo'saw a lot of the world," said Mr. Cleverley, who was ( also greeted with loud applause, "but nowhere .did we see amateur sports run better than they are in this country." Ho also paid a tribute to the manner in which Mr. and Mrs. Amos had treated them. "In deference to 'my wishes the chairman has not announced my toast," said the next speaker, the Hon. T. M. Wilford. Morgan and Cleverley, he continued, had a long future in sport. He: was going to propose "the authors of their beings—their fathers and mothers." Just as a man in public life 'could not get on without a good wife, so :a young man could not get ahead without a good mother. (Hear, hear.) He asked them to rise and drink to the toast, of Mr. and Mrs.; Morgan and . Mr. and Mrs. Cloverley, "May they live long to see more doughty deeds done by .their sons." 0' Other toasts honoured were Mr. and Mrs. Amos, proposed by Mr. 11. 11. Sterling, and Captain Urquhart, of the Buahine, proposed by tho chairman and supported by Mr. Amos.