BOXING CONTROL IN N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 11

BOXING CONTROL IN N.Z.

Annual Conference Of Association

SEVERAL REMITS DISCUSSED

DELEGATES FROM ALL PARTS OF DOMINION

More than 30 delegates were present at the annual conference of the New Zealand Boxing Association which was opened in Invercargill yesterday in conjunction with the New Zealand amateur boxing championships. The president of the New Zealand Boxing Association, Mr A. H. Courtis (Southland) was in the chair, and the conference was also attended by the following delegates: Messrs N. McLean (Auckland), F. Paape and R. W. Morris (Otago), E. Wimsett and D. Armstrong (Manawatu), G. H. Sceats (Gisborne), K. Louden and T. Logie (Hutt Valley), H. D. Johnston and J. H. Ward (Ashburton), D. Lynch (Rakaia), C. Neville (Greymouth, Westport and Oamaru), B. Ryan and W. P. Sommerville (Wellington), J. Stickland (Hawkes. Bay), H. E. Connop (Napier and Waipukurau), F. H. Hughes and N. McGorlick (Southland),, J. Garcia (Taranaki and Patea), B. A. Guise (Wanganui), H. Dawson (Nelson), A. E. Tail (Timaru), A. Stacey, L. T. Annand and A. R. Harris (Christchurch), A. B. Joplin (Whangarei). The president introduced the DeputyMayor (Mr J. R. Martin), saying that he had been connected with sport in Invercargill for many years and was one of the foundation members of the Southland Boxing Association. In welcoming the delegates to Invercargill Mr Martin said he thought they should be thankful to the New Zealand Boxing Council for allowing the meeting to be held in Invercargill. Seventeen different districts were represented, and although today Southland was not as prominent as it was a few years ago, he thought the province would return to its former position in boxing. There were some sections of the community who thought that at a j time like this they should not go on I with the tournament, but he did not concur with this view. Boxing tended to develop the body and the mind, and he thought there was every reason why they should carry on. Mr Martin concluded by extending an invitation to the delegates and boxers, on behalf of the City Council, to use the Municipal Baths free of charge while they were in Invercargill, and expressing the hope that the conference would be a success from the point of view of boxers and delegates.

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME “It is my privilege and pleasure, on behalf of the sports bodies in general and the boxing fraternity in particular, to welcome you to Invercargill,” said the president in opening the conference. “We 'sincerely trust that your stay with us will be pleasant, and that you will go away carrying pleasant recollections of the 1939 conference and championships and the time you have spent with us. We appreciate to the full the confidence of those who supported our application for the 1939 championships, and we trust our endeavours will in no way cause them to regret their action.” Mr Courtis added that they were fortunate in being encouraged to see the 1939 championships to a conclusion, as wars and rumours of war had certainly had a very depressing effect on everyone. He felt sure that the whole of the boxing fraternity of this Dominion stood four square with the Government in its whole-hearted support of the Mother Country. “The British Empire and her allies today are fighting for democracy—a state we Britishers so dearly love and which has cost us uncountable lives and wealth to maintain,” he said. “The Empire and her allies go into this war with clear consciences, knowing that if there ever was a just war this one is. Nazism, synonymous with despotism, must be knocked back good and hard and crippled effectively, so that the peoples of the world can live in peace. “I would suggest that a telegram be sent from this conference to the Prime i Minister conveying to him our whole- I hearted support of whatever step he may deem it necessary to take to support the British Government during the present crisis. “I do not intend to touch on the year’s doings of the various associations attached to the New Zealand Boxing Association as that, no doubt, will be dealt with by some members of the council more closely in touch with association doings than I, but I would like to say that I think there are far too many associations who are more or less dormant. What is the reason? Are the young fellows following other sports which do not require the strength of mind that boxing demands, j or is our young manhood deteriorating ? There must be some reason, and I would suggest that associations show more keenness during the coming year as the fit and trained man may be specially required to defend his rights in the very near future.”

REMITS DISCUSSED The Gisborne Association’s remit that the annual meeting be held at the headquarters of the association during the month of May, and that the council be increased from seven to nine was lost. The Otago Association moved that the following addition to rule 35 (c) be inserted in the rule: “With the reservation that the title-holder shall not be called upon by the council to defend his title more often than once in every three months, and that the holder have the right to choose the venue of any such contest.” Mr F. Paape said that this matter had been brought up in the interests of the professional boxers. The council had a right to make them fight at any time for their titles, and there was nothing to stop the council from mak-

ing a boxer defend his title three times in a week, That, he thought, was not fair. Under the present rules a boxer could have a job. Some, indeed, had good jobs, and it was not always convenient for an employer to let a man away to defend a title. The boxer was therefore liable to forfeit his title or his job. They should not make every fight a title one. Mr H. D. Johnston agreed that fl was a move in the right direction, and if it were carried there would not be so many vacant titles. Mr G. H. Sceats (Gisborne) said he objected to the holder of the title having the right to choose the venue of the contest. The secretary (Mr G. P. Aldridge) said the associations were tumbling over each other to hold title bouts. It was not fair to call on a boxer to defend his title two or three times a week. He did not agree with Mr

Paape’s suggestion, however, that a boxer was forced to defend his title. The council was prepared to accept any legitimate reason for not defending a title, and would always take a reasonable attitude. He considered it dangerous to allow a boxer to choose the venue, as one association might monopolize his services. The remit was lost.

A remit from Ashburton: “That each bout shall be of four two-minute rounds with an interval of one minute between rounds,” was presented by Mr H. u. Johnston.

Mr N. McLean. (Auckland) opposed the remit, saying that all international contests were fought over three threeminute rounds. He thought the provincial associations should all hold their championships over three three-minute (rounds. There should be something definite as far as the provincial associations were concerned, and they should hold their contests over three three-minute rounds to bring them into line with the New Zealand championships.

Mr Johnston said he was referring to amateur preliminaires at professional fights. The motion was lost.

The conference was adjourned till this morning, when the election of officers will be held.