"Amateur Boxing Association"

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 15

"Amateur Boxing Association"

Christchurch Cranks Continue to Cry

The irreconcilab.es m Christchurch, New Zealand Council, keep on When the delegates to the New Zea- ' land Boxing Association decided last year that it was time for a change m the construction of the Council, they hurt the feelings of one or two 7 and that hurt is still with the one or two. Deprived of their power, the pushed -out ones decided to form an association of their own. All manner of tricks and all manner of guile were brought into operation, but only m a few places did the under- ! mining of the present constitution succeed. One of the "heads" of the underminers is well known m Christchurch, • where he contributes to a local paper. Last week he was back on his pet theory, and here is what he had to say; The movement for the organisation of amateurism which was initiated m Christchurch several months ago has met with such general approbation that the formation of an Amateur Boxing Association can be looked for. The frantic opposition of the advocates of the retention of the present system of dual control, combined with a certain amount of more or less secret influence, possibly may cause a little delay, but the force behind the reform will eventually gain its ends. It can be taken for granted that the amateur championships which are to be decided m Christchurch this - month will be the last to be carried out under existing conditions. The amateur has awakened to the fact that he is simply being exploited m the interests of .the professional promote!', and has decided that he is quite competent to look after hia own 'affairs. When amateurs m sport come to

the push that were pushed out of the j showing themselves up. that conclusion and decide to act ; ■' accordingly there is no power equal to stopping them. All the above rerffis very nice on paper, but that is as far as it has reached — and as far as it will ever reach. . "Truth" has asked several times now (and to date has received no Answer) if the amateur to-day is any worse off than the amateur of last year, of the year before, or of ten years ago ? If he is, there is some reason for the formation of a purely amateur concern, but if he isn% why not the 1 dual control? • From very close observations, "Truth" can positively say that the amateur of to-day is every bit as well catered for as he was last year or ten years back. . Of course, the Christchurch cranks can say that the amateur could be better off than he is at present. But would it be wise for them to make such a statement? Hardly, seeing that they (the cranks) had complete control of boxing for such . a long term, and during that term failed* to improve the conditions of the amateur. To make that statement would be making a rod for their own backs. No, the whole fact, of the matter, is this:. -The Christchurch cranks do not care a tinker's dam for the amateur; it is their own dnterst . they are thinking about. After , so many years m the lime- . light— and they were m the limelight, eh, Paul McQuarrie? — the sudden dimming of the spotlight has left them, we will say, just a little peeved. Whilst m the executive' offices they were well satisfied, but once out of them, well, that's a cat of another breed' — and that cat knows how to squeal.