PRIZE-FIGHT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10505, 13 July 1910, Page 1

PRIZE-FIGHT.

[By Electoic TELEGitArir — CopYiuanT.] (Per Press Association*.) THE PICTURE CONTROVERSY.. Received July 12; at 9.-20 p.m. ?,)-'bourn.?. -July 12. A bij; deputation of eleniymen :i;v.l others chmr.in.q. to represent practically tlie whole oi' rhe forces acting for the moral frond of tils community waited on .Mr Fisher ae.d iu'j-e'l him to prohibit the I til ptsrtiit ii">n of tiic films of the Johnson-Jeffries fiejit o'i the -"rounds rally and a h:i(l effect educationally on vouch. Tiie Rev. Worn:!! e>-pp-----:ed i!io_ opinion flint it would bo .simply national here or elsewhere in the empire. A lady deputntionist claimed that the sitrht oi' ill deeds was responsible for :!! deeds lieiuii done. V.'hile the deputation wanted the Johnson-Jeffries films especially prohibited, it also desired others of a similar character io be kept out. with the question, of a .'general prohibitio;i later. As to the Johnson-Jeffries liinit the pictures could not he barred unless found imh-reiit. H- would not legislate for one particular event, and did not, think' of takinii steps to pro* hibit boxing, much as he abhorred prize-fi.uhtiiif- whicli introduced a purely commercial spirit. The Press reports of the fiiihf disclosed nothing more de-•.-r:ic!iii<i than was ordinarily connected with. Is<:>:in<-, and he had no intention of asking tlie department to -prohibit the introduction of the films, and was •lot jioinir to be driven hy the little excitable feeling which had arisen.

(I'Kn Pjiehs Association".) Christohuroh. July 1-. Some aspects of the Jeffries-Johnson context were discussed at a meeting of the Chrisiehurch Presbytery this morning. The Rev. C. jltirrr.y expressed the opinion that tile Prcshytory'shoukl protest against the publication in the papers of the horrible details of prizefights. He could feel some sympathy with the editors who felt themselves under a .sort of obligation to put reports in their papers. The reports of those fights had a demoralising effect, mid the Church should express its mind on' the evil, and assist to put it down as much as lay in its power. It was lamentable to see the tremendous interest which, was being taken in these contests. "Newspapers, perhaps, had to cater for the wants of the public, but the Church should assist editors to eliminate these gruesome details from their columns. He moved : ■'That the Presbytery strongly protests against prize-fights being reported injhc columns of the public press to the gross outrage of humane sentiment, and pledges itself to oppose to the utmost of its power the representation of these horrible exhibitions by cinematograph or other process." The Her. J. Johnston seconded the motion, and said that the thing was having a bad effect on children. They were taking a deeper interest in boxing almost than anything else, and it was having a degrading influence on them. The Rev. Wood understood that the motion was not against boxing as applied to physical culture and use of the gloves. The Rev. C. Murray replied that he was not referring to boxing.