INDIGNANT "SPORTS."

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7851, 13 July 1911, Page 1

INDIGNANT "SPORTS."

LEGISLATION RESENTED. SPECIAL TO TJIE “TlilES." AUCKLAND, July 12. For the protection of all branches of legitimate sport a-society has sprung existence which aims at counteracting the tendency to bring about legislative interference with recognised pastimes. Last nignt, at His Majesty's Tneatre, a crowd of nearly 2000 men witnessed the second night’s programme in connection wjitn the JNorthern Boxing Association's championships. During tho evening, Mr R, A, Armstrong, \\ T ho proceeds to Wellington this week to represent Auckland at a Do- 1 minion conference to consider- tho best means of defending legitimate sport, was invited to address the gathering. Mr Armstrong said ail true sportsmen would realise tho necessity for immediate and aggressive action. The coming conference was the outcome of meetings held twelve months ago, and one of the first organisations to come forward and support the movement was the Northern Boxing Association. (Applause.) They all knew how great had become the necessity for fighting for the rights of sport, and thev know what tlley had to fight against. (Many voices; The “ WowMr Armstrong; Exactly. At present (tie continued) racing was being attacked, and several country clubs were bedng compelled to close down. The f * Wowser J * was entirely responsible for that. If the “ Wowser " influence was not to b© permitted to make itself felt in other branches of legitimate sport, then all true sportsmen would have to bo up and doing. Every man displaying “ Wowseristio" tendencies should be driven right out of public life, so that there would be no danger at all to any Dranch ot true sport, (Applause.) To achieve this thev would have to fight, and fight hard, *but he had no doubt about the ultimate result. Mr Armstrong then moved: “That this gathering of Auckland sportsmen, viewing with strong disapprobation the growing tendency of * Wowser * interference with the sports and pastimes of the people, affirms the need for sport pro. tection societies throughout New Zealand, and tenders the Conference its hearty good wishes. * The motion was out to tho meeting by Mr Plugge, an official of the, Northern Boxing Association., and carried unanimously, amidst considerable applause and uoots.