BOXING

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 February 1926, Page 12

BOXING

AIM TO PUT BOXING ON SCHOOL SYLLABUS OFFICIAL OPINION. Boxing will become a recognised part of the physical culture side of 1 the curriculum throughout the primary and secondary schools of the. Dominion if the New Zealand Boxing Association has it way. Mr. G. P. Aldridge, secretary of the association, who is visiting Christchurch, sai'd the other evening. “Up to the present time few of the primary schools have interested themselves m the sport,” said Mr. Aldridge. “That -is a pity. There is a- feeling throughout the country that boxing should be introduced as a regular part of the syllabus in the schools. We are going to do our utmost to see that it is.” Mr. Aldridge stressed the physical benefits resulting from the sport, and declared that its manly qualities would appeal to pupils and teachers alike. The secondary schools could do a lot more than they are doing in connection with instruction in boxing, he said.

“We are out to place amateur boxing in a more secure position in this country,” Mr. Aldridge went on, “and we are going to do it. Besides introducing the sport into the schools we propose to create more instruction •gyms’ under the control of registered instructors. The ‘gyms,’ of course, «. would he under the jurisdiction, of the jf associations of the various districts in which they are situated. That scheme ought to do a. lot towards fostering the sport in New Zealand.” Mr. Aldridge said that these proposals would come before a special general meeting of delegates from associations throughout New Zealand, lo.be held on March. 3 next, when the future policy of the council would be considered. “Meanwhile we are doing ail that is possible to enhance the popularity of boxing by other methods,” he said. “The chairman of the Napier Association, Mr. M. Treston, has donated a shield which will bear the title of the Malcolm Treston Challenge Shield, and this will he completed for amongst the provincial associations of the Dominion on similar lines to those followed in the case of the Itanfurlv Shield for football. It is a beautiful thing—well worth fighting for.”

Mr. Aldridge, on behalf of the council of the New’ Zealand Boxing Association. is visiting local associations throughout New Zealand with a. view to giving them assistance with regard to matters of policy.