BOXING AND WRESTLING

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 July 1939, Page 4

BOXING AND WRESTLING

GREYMOUTiI ASSOCIATION MEETS

Mr. A. Behan presided over an attendance of 20 members at the annual meeting of the Greymouth Boxing and Wrestling Association, last evening.

Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the memcry of the kite Mr. J. B. Paton and tho lalo Mr. H. Melville.

The annual report as published in the “Star” of yesterday was approved.

Tho balance-sheet, showing a debit balance of £35/13/8. was adopted. The secretary (Mr. F. W. Baillie' said that the overdraft al the beginning of the year was £7l/2/9, and it had been reduced to £35/13/8. At the only profession al boxing contest held during the year, (he takings had been £2B/5/6, and the expenses £5B 13/7, leaving a loss of £3O/8/1, an I this loss would have been greater but for tho fact (hat Mr. Beban donated the hall free, and the doorkeepers accepted no payment for their services. But for those donations, the loss would have been about £ 10. Subscriptions outstanding amounted to £2l 17/-, and the excess of assets over liabilities! was £65/13/1. If all subscriptions were paid, the profit of last Saturday night’s bout would have cleared the Association’s financial position.

In accordance with notice given at a committee meeting, Mr. J. Griffen moved that in future the annual meeting of the Association be held in April instead of July. The season usually started in May, and it. meant, with the annual meeting in July that a new committee had! to take’ over control almost in the middle of the' season. The motion was seconded’ by Mr. W. Kells, and carried 1 unanimously. On the motion of Messrs. F. H. Denton and 11. G. Carter, it was resolved that the financial year of the Association be the period from April 1 to March 31. Applications from the Marist and Brunner Football Clubs 1 and the Brunner Amateur Athletic Club, received in that order. for permission to conduct boxing tournaments, and for the use of ring and ropes, ‘were referred to the incoming committee. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. A. Behan (re-elected); vice-presidents. Messrs. .1. Steel senr.,« F. H. Denton, W. Kells, A. Marshall, N. Kiely, 11. G. Carter; committee: Messrs. H. Moore, F. L. Bell, R. Hall, J. Griffen, F. Costello and C. Neville were elected after a ballot, Messrs W. Robson and A. Nelson being the i other nominations; secretary, Mr. F. W. Baillie (re-elected); assistant-sec-retary, Mr. M. McDonald; auditor, Mr. L, Phillips (re-elected); treasurer: Mr. W. Gieseking (re-elected); medical officers, all doctors in the district-; emergency committee, Messrs. J. Steel senr., J. Griffen and the President (reelected; official announcer, Mr. J. E. A. McKeefry (re-elected). The President returned thanks for his re-election, and said he would continue to do his l best in the interests of the Association. LACK OF ASSISTANCE. Prior to the election of the committee, Mr. W. Kell& complainedthat at every general meeting men ■were put on the committee who did not attend meetings of that committee. He thought that any member who accepted nomination should be prepared to do his share.

The secretary said that most of the work was left for him to do. He paid a tribute to the assistance given him by Mr. M.-McDonald, but said: that all members of the committee should assist. He had been inclined to resign his position as secretary, but was. prepared to carry on until the Association’s finances were in credit.

Mr. Carter paid a tribute to the work of Mr. Baillie as secretary.

The secretary stated, after the election of officers, that the New Zealand amateur boxing championships •would' be held at Invercargill on September 12, 13 and 14, and that the West Coast championships would have to be held before August 8. Mr. N. Kiely suggested that when the ilssociation regained a sound financial position it should endeavour to assist district boxing - clubs, which were doing a great deal in developing amateur boxing talent. The boys from those clubs had attended tournaments all over the district, and on Saturday last a team of Coast boys had taken part in a tournament at Christchurch. They had done so at their own expense. The Association would reap the benefit from the return bouts which it was proposed should be held at Greymouth at an early date. The clubs were “hard up” for gloves and other essential equipment, and a donation from the Association would be a big assistance. Mr. H. G. Carter agreed that the Association should assist the amateurs once it had settled its financial difficulties. He would be prepared to donate a trophy for the most improved boy at an amateur tournament. The secretary said that- the matter of assisting amateur boxers, and also the amateur wrestlers, had been concerning the committee for a long' time. So far, on account of their financial position, they had found it impossible to do anything in that regard, but he felt sure that they would do so once the finances were on the credit side. As far as the boys attending a tournament at Christchurch was concerned, the Association knew nothing about

it, and as in the case of football teams with their controlling bodies, the approval of the Association should have been sought. Naturally, there would have been no question about, getting approval, but it was the proper course to adopt. Mr. Griffen said that later in the season, the committee might put on a tournament, and devote all the proceeds to the assistance of amateurs.

It 'was decided to apply to the Dominion Wrestling Union for a grant from its insurance fund fi r the benefit of K. Fisher, an amateur wrestler who received a broken collarbone on Saturday last. It was resolved that, the secretary be granted the usual honorarium of£ls/15/-. PR IVI LEG ESA B U SED. Air. Al. McDonald raised 1 the question of members' tickets and'privileges, lie said that at one time the tickets were made transferable to members' fam-1 Hies only. but. as that privilege had' been abused, it had been withdrawn.) The tickets were now stated to be; “not transferable,” and yet they still

had members giving their tickets away. This- was not fair to the wrestlers. who were on a percentage basis, and he urgedi members to assist the committee, amt not give their tickets away.

Air. F. L. Bell said that in a lot of successful associations members received tickets, but. had to pay 2/6 for ringside seats. He thought that, considering the financial position of the Association, members would not begrudge paying that, sum for ringside seats.

The chairman said he could not take Mr. Bell’s suggestion as a motion. It would have Io be a recoinmendatioif to the committee.

Mr. Kells said be considered that members who gave their tickets away should be struck off the list.

No motion was proposed in regard to the tickets, and the meeting closed.