THE BOXING EVIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13305, 11 October 1906, Page 7

THE BOXING EVIL.

Sir, — have just perused Mr. .Tory's letter with regard to the alleged boxing evil in New Zealand. I should liiko to state that no one is discussing the position of affairs with reference to boxing in Australia, 1 understood his conjplaint was against, the padded art, .so far as Now Zealand was .concerned. No oil a could doubt for a moment that Mr. .Tory is ignorant of what ho is talking about. Ho is like a good many more who express views without previously ascertaining the accuracy thereof. ■. Let me remind Mr. Jory further that the men at the head of the constitution of fho sport here are equally a.s respectable, law-abiding, and religious citizens as he is himself, and possibly possess more charitable instincts. " Let I. who is without sin cast the first stone. I strongly protest against his contemptible attempt to cast a slur upon men for indulging in the noble art of self-defence, so capably and effectively carried out, as it. is, by such a splendid body of young men. Let Mr. Jory- personally judge for himself and come-along to one of our evenings, and not place absolute reliance on any report. His comparison of the condition of things existing in Australia with those of New Zealand is highly absurd and indicates a complete want of information on the subject.' Jn Australia the professional element is the predominant factor; in New Zealand the council do not encourage or support in any way the professional methods, and the scene, such as Mr. Jory described, has never occurred, and is never likely to occur whilst the council rules are in force, and I should like to further inform Mr. Jory that although a man may be permitted to continue boxing until he is beaten, ho is never allowed to continue until he is injured. He may well adversely criticise the conditions of the sport in Australia,, but I challenge him to prove, so far as New Zealand is concerned, that it is a menace to the morals of the community, and that any scene has occurred since its• inauguration militating against it being numbered amongst the best of healthy and invigorating exercises, G. ESSEX. Poiisoaby, October 8. (