GISBORNE BOXING ASSOCIATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16114, 1 May 1923, Page 9

GISBORNE BOXING ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of the (Jisborne Boxing Association was held last evening, there was a fair attendance. Ihe patron. Mr. W Lissant. Clayton, presid-

The annual report .stated; Tournaments—During Ihe past season only two tournaments have been held- by ihe association. On the blh .tune, 1922. Robinson was matched against t . "Canii, of \\anganui, and itobinson won on points. liie same evening the local am.it.'in- championships were held. The winners in the various classes i\ero; Bantam. A. K. Robertson; feather, Mark Burl; light-. YV. T. Bickard; welter, \V. I . Rickar.l; heavy; o'. McKay;. "The i.i-.-iiioi nil cup for ihe most .scientific boxer at Ihe tournament was awarded lo A. Iv. Robertson. I lie tournament was not a linaneial success. 'J he re-n-.pts were £ll9 12s. and the expenditure £27/ 13s 2d. a loss of J3JSB Is 2d. An amateur tournament was held at- the Carrison Hall on 27th duly, and an interesting programme of bouts met wild 'an appreciative reception. This tournament also shows a loss of £2l 14s orl. North Island championships—\Y. I. Riekard. lightweight., and A. K. Roberuson, llyweight , with 0. L. Davy as irainer, represented this association at, the North Island championships held at Palmers-ton North, but they were not successful in qualifying for the New Zealand championships, although they hexed very creditably, and iosl by the smallest of margins. The thanks of the association are due to Mr C. L. Davy lo; the capable manner in which he handled our representatives. The membership has decreased considerably, and now stands at 50 active members and 43 honorary members. The training rooms are still occupied by your association, but it would lie advisable for you to consider the advisability of keeping ihe rooms open; Thanks are due to all those gentlemen who assisted during the M'-isnn. to K. S. Williams, Esq., for a handsome cup. to Dr. J. (.'live Collins and l')r \V. A. Bowie, (lion, medical offi-ersi. to Mr H. E. Maude (lion, auditor), and also to Air J. A. Mackay fo(' his great assistance as honorary referee to the association. A special* vote of thanks is also due 7o the press for their hearty co-opei'ation in keeping the sport, before the public. The. association has suffered a great loss from the ranks of the amateur boxers by the death of Mark Burt, who ' was a clean, good boxer, and loyal to our association. Your committee, together with representatives of other sports bodies have opened a "Mark Burt relief fund," and the donations received on behalf of the widow and orphans of oar late friend and boxer are very satisfactory indeed. In conclusion we sincerely hope that the se.'tson 1922-23 will prove more successful, financially, than the past season. The balance sheet showed that there was a. cash surplus of £129 Is 9d. The liabilities totalled £512 12s 9d, this being balanced by assests with the surplus above mentioned.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the chairman said it wts hard to say anything that would be satisfactory to members. They had had .several tournaments which had not been financial successes. The main reason why they had not been able to put on a first class fight- was the paucity of first class boxers in the Dominion. The result had been that the committee had found it dcsiriible lo mark time. The position was not so bad that they should wind .tip the association. The operation for the vear resulted in a loss of £216 13s lldt 'While, they had started the vear with a good balance they had now been reduced lo £129 Is 9d. They had a good deal of plant. The training rooms had been kepi going. As they had not had the support it- was a 'matter for consideration as to whether they .should keep the rooms going when there was no revenue coming irt. They had not been able to provide, sufficient for the. members" in the matter of entertainment. They might decide to defer tin l collection of the subscriptions, meanlime. He very much deplored the death of Air Marl: Burl, who had always been loyal to the association. They had opened a fund for the widow and children, and the total amount to hand so fat- from all sources, was £257 15s 7(1. There were still some lists to come in, ami the question would have to be•• considered .'is to how lite money should be handed over. It might be advisable to hand the money to the Public Trustee for administration. The speaker apologised for ihe absence of Messrs B. AisInbie (chairman of the committee) and W V. Nolan, who were unable to be present.

In seconding the adoption of the balance sheet, Mr R. Dotison pointed out that there were sundry 1 [abilities, outstanding, which reduced the balance to £63

The report and balance sheet, were adopted. The (raining room was casting £1 a week and lighting, remarked the chairman, who said lie thought that the only wise course was to terminate the arrangement, with the landlord, and to ai range for the safe custody of -the tittings. Without - the support from the amateurs and trainers there was no use at present of keeping the rooms open. lie moved: "That the, incoming committee be instructed to ■ terminate the lease of the training rooms forthwith, and the committee to make such arrangements re storage of plant as may be desirable."

Mr R. Willbck seconded the motion, saying that if' the boxers wanted the rooms they should make arrangements themselves. After a short discussion the motion was carried.

Regarding the Mark Burt relief fund, Mr P. Hamilton moved that it b e a recommendation to the association's delegates on the committee that the money be placed by the present trustees in the hands of the Public Trustee for administration.-*- Mr Paltridge seconded the motion, which was earned.

The secretary mentioned that at the iusf committee meeting it was recommended that the next North Island championships should be held at Napier. Mr Baillie moved that it be a recommendation to the committee that the deferring of the subscription, or lialf- •■ inscription, be held over until there is .some activity in the association.—Mill n"mpt6n seconded. The motion was carried. ■' . ,

In reply to Mr Maher, the secretary i-tnted that there were some vacancies on the list of actual members.

Mr' Hampton moved that all hon. members present be elected to the active list if they so desire.—This was seconded by Mr S. Leech.—Carried.—The following were elected forthwith: Messrs A. Stoneham, R>. Rice, F. L. Allen, and lloulahan.

The election of officers for the ensuing veto resulted: Patron, Mr W. Lissant Clayton; president, Mr K. S. Williams, .M.P.; vice-presidents, Mr F. W. Nolan and Sir James Carroll, M.L.C.; committee Messrs B. It. Aislabie, 0. J. Martin, I>. 'Hamilton, A. Baillie, F. Maher, W. R. B. W'iilock, E. Hampton, Rice. C. t). Hansen, R. Dobsou. Paltridgc, and Houlahau; hon. medical officers, Dra J. t live Gollins and W. A. Bowie; hon. auditor .Mr It. Fa Maude; treasurer Mr P. 11. Hamilton. A tribute to the work of the secretary was paid by the chairman, who ■Moved that Mr Craig fie re-elected.

Eventually'ii was decided the position of secretary be left open in the meantime. Mr M. \V. Craig, the retiring secretary, staling (bat he would not accept le-no'minatioii, but he was willing to act in the capacity until another secretary bad beeri obtained. V'ole? of (hanks were accorded Mr Somervell for acting as caretaker of the association's properly, and the chairman, lire meeting then terminating.