WELCOMED HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 99, 23 October 1936, Page 6

WELCOMED HOME

OLYMPIC BOXER

FUNCTION AT MIRAMAR

A large crowd of boxing enthusiasts assembled at the Miramar Boxing Club's gymnasium last night when the club welcomed home Mr. T. Arbuthnot, one of the team of boxers which' represented New Zealand at the1 Olympic Games. In extending a welcome to the guest of honour, the chairman, Mr. W. H. McPhail, president of the Miramar Boxmg Club, said he was sure that those present were unanimous in their welcome to Mr. Arbuthnot. He had been away from New Zealand for five and a half months and, although he had not come back as a world's champion, they were not disappointed in him. They all knew that he had upheld the honour of the club, New Zealand, and the sport of boxing, and that the experience he had gained would not be wasted.

Mr. Arbuthnot' gave thanks for his warm welcome and expressed his pleasure at being home again. The-team had had a wonderful trip, he said, and had been welltreated in every country they had visited. The Australians had been particularly kind to them and had treated them as members of their own team. They had found the Germans very hospitable and fair and had no fault to find with the judges. Mr. W. Crawford, who, untiirecently, was in charge of Maurice Strickland, briefly outlined that boxer's career since he has been in England. Although Strickland had won his first fight, against Foord, he had had several losses after that, • Mr. Crawford said, and each time he had descended a step in the fugilistic: ladder. The New Zealander had attributed these failures to the severe climate—it had been the worst winter in England for twenty years—and had hoped to improve in the spring. Since the speaker had left the Old Country Strickland had won several fights, and he thought he would go on winning. There was just as good material in New Zealand as in England, he said, and he considered the i New Zealand amateurs to be of even better stamp and physique than those at Home. England was a great place for boxers, and if a man looked at all promising he could make a living; if he was a good fighter he could make plenty .of money. He was thankful to be back in "New Zealand, however^—it had the best climate in the world. A farewell presentation was made to Mr. McPhau, who has been trans 7 ferred to another city. Mr. J, C. Troy, the club, secretary, eulogised Mr. MePhail's work and emphasised the'generous way in which he had helped the club. Mr. McPhail thanked the committee and all those who had helped him dur* ing his term of office. With its good material and strong supporters, the club should become the primary sporting club of Wellington. Items were contributed by Messrs. J. Rowoth, R. Morris, F. Histed, Ross Williams, and V. Middleton. .The ac;companist was Mr. E. Dean.