WORK FOR BOXING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1934, Page 21

WORK FOR BOXING

THREE WELLINGTON MEN

RECOGNITION OF SERVICES

(By "Aeneas.")

The opportunity of recognising long and valuable services in the interests of boxing, both in Wellington and throughout tho Dominion, will bo given members of the Wellington Boxing Association at tho annual meeting on Wednesday night, when Messrs. E. W. McYilly, W. G. Talbot, and B. A. Guise will be proposed as lifo members of tho association. Life membership, the highest honour a sports body can confer, is invariably reserved for cases where it is thoroughly merited, but there can be little doifbt that the three gentleman named thoroughly deserve the distinction.

To Mr. R. W. MeVilly, who is alsoj well known in connection with amateur athletics, boxing in the Dominion owes a great debt, for it was largely as the result* of his efforts, which included many interviews and lengthy negotiations with the Government and its Ministers, that the promotion of boxing contests was legalised in the Dominion. His connection with the sport goes back to its. very beginnings in this country, and from that time he has spared no i effort in bringing boxing to the position of respect which it holds at present. ' . ■ ■

FOUNDATION MEMBER.

Mr. MeVilly was a foundation member ■of .the Wellington Boxing Association, being elected at the first general meeting, on March 13, 1903, at the Empire Hotel. The following year, at the annual meeting on March 29, he was elected a member of the committee, of which he became chairman in 1905. Ho was a vico-president from 1906 to 1909, when he was elected president. He held office until 1912, when the late Dr. Izard filled tho position, followed by Mr. Ernest Blundell. Mr. McVilly was elected president again in 1913, and has lield office ever since.

'; Mr. TV. G. Talbot has been prominently connected with boxing for about a quarter of a century, and during the past twenty-ono years he has missed only one annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council. He has been honorary secretary of the Wellington Association since 1910, and a j member for about the same period. | It is to Mr. Talbot that much of the credit is duo for the efficient manner in which boxing is controlled' in the Dominion. The rules governing the sport are founded on tho International Boxing Federation, but their adaptation to suit New Zealand conditions has very largely followed suggestions by Mr. Talbot.

THE INSURANCE SCHEME,

Ho also played a very important part in the establishment of the New Zealand Boxing Association's insurance fund under which injured boxers receive compensation. Though Rugby footballers, for instance, receive help from their respective unions when in-1 jured, tho boxing insurance schemo is probably unique in that it operates I throughout tho entire Dominion. It originated under rules drawn up by Mr. Talbot and has gradually grown until the trustees arc now able to compensate boxers for injuries they rcceivo during actual competition in the ring. As there are thousands of amateurs competing annually throughout tho Dominion, it can readily bo understood that there are many demands upon the fund, but so far there is no recorded case of an application having boeu turned down.

, Mr. B:.'A'. Guise is another "old hand'? in tho sport which he has served as official at contests as well as being

honorary treasurer. Liko : all other sports boxing has its ups and downs financially, and tho Wellington Association's funds have required careful husbanding at times. Ho became a

member of the association in 1908, was elected to the committee in 1910, and

boeamo honorary treasurer two years later, having prepared tho balancesheet every year since.