BOXING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11359, 10 April 1915, Page 6

BOXING.

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the New Z<?aland Boxing (3ounoil »vas held last evoninc;, Mr J. R. Evans presiding. The annual report stated :—From a competition point, of view the season oponed with every indication of proving at. successful as the best of previ- [ ous jsea«ons: but tho outbreak of tbe iMiropea.n war afVectod this, as it affect-] ovory other sport. Local associa- J tions deemed it advisable to curtail | their programiaef.. a.nd the season prao- j tiddly closed inimodiaiely following tho! declaration ot war. as few competitions 1 or contests were carried out later. The ; Australasian championships were aban-j doned. and the question of carrying! out uext, season's Now Zealand chum-' w ill bo a matter for tho con- ; M<)eraUon of the incoming council. £jo; far as tlie season wont, there ivas, ample evidence to ?how tl'ia-t there was no falHiui olt' on tho whole in Jniblic \ interest. While interest perhaps, declined in one district, i& showed anj increase in ot-liers. So many couipeti- i t ion boxers have joined tile New Zea- j iand forces tor tho front that it is; Quite possible there will be a falling oil j in entries for local competitions; but 1 it is to be hoped that tho altered con-j dit-ions will not compel the entire aban- i donment of tho sport in any one dLs-] trict. The council, while recognising; the seriousness of the crisis in Euro- j pea.n affairs, is of opinion that it will j bo l'or the benefit of all concerned that j local programmes be as tvell maintain-j ed' as is possible under the ciroum- 1 stmicea. and trusts that affiliated I bodies will do their utmost to give j efl'eot to tliis view. The annual New: Zealand, ciminpionsliip tournament wasj carried out at Wanganui, by tho Wan-j ganui Boxing Association. representa-| b-eing _ present from Auckland,! YVaiknto, (iisborne, Taumaruiuii, New I I'ly mou ih. Wanganui. Paimerston North,. Bastings. Napier, Masterton, Wellington. Greymouth, Christehurch, Tiraaru. I>tmediti and Invevcargill. Sol

largo was rlie entry that it was found necessary k> extend the tournament, over three evenings, tho dates being July 22, 23 and 24. Of the previous season's champions, the only one to defend his title was N. Bennetts, in the feather-weight class. Ho was defeated in the semi-xinal by A. Goodman, winner of the final. Amongst the competitors were quite & number who had competed previously, as weii as many who were regular competitors in their local competitions, so that the class was well up to the average. Several competitors in each of the classes, with the exception of the heavyweight, showed equal form to that seen at any previous competitions, particularly good performances being those of James (light) and A. Wood (middle). The tournament was mo>st efficiently carried out, and on tho whole was one of the most successful held under council mlea. The winners were as follows:—Bantam, J. Harrhy (Dunedin); feather, A. Goodman (Dlined in) ; light, M. James (Auckland); welter, J. Heeney (Gisborne); middle, A. Wood (Invercargill), heavy, 0. Savory (Auckland). The professional class was well catered for under the circumstances, contests being promoted by all the leading associations. The several championships, with the exception of tho welter class, were competed for, and at the close of the season, the results were as follows: —Feather, G. Venn; light, P. Cook; middle, I>. Murphy; heavy, A. Pooley. The only contest for the bantam championship took place at MilJerton between J. O'Neil and' 0. Stewart, and' resulted in a draw. Hagerty, holder of the light-weight championship, having left Xew Zealand with the lv peditiona,ry Force, the title was competed for by P. Cook and W. Shutt, the former winning. S. Mitchell and J. Poesy (France) were matched for the welter championship by the Gisborne association, but, as the Frenchman was over weight, the title was not at stake. The annual conference of local associations was held at Wanganui, on July 22 and 24. and was presid'ed' over by the president of the New Zealand Council. Mr L. Cohen. Delegates were present from Auckland. Gisborne, Taumarunui. Wanganui. Hastings. Dannevirke, Masterton, Wellington, Greymouth, Christr churoh, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill. Some very important business was dealt with, tho most noteworthy relating to the legal recognition of a controlling body, and to the registration of all trainers, boxers and instructors throughout the Dominion. The former matter was referred to the Xew Zealand council with authority to formulate a scheme, and on its adoption to arrange for a deputation to approach the Government with regard to legislation. A sub-committee appointed by tho council to deal with the question reported that, in view of the war. it was inadvisable to approach the Government when affairs affecting the welfare ot the Empire were under daily discussion and consideration. With respect to the registration of trainers, boxers and' instructors, tho rules agreed to will be embodied in the rules or the Xew Zealand council. By common assort by the parties concerned in the Australian agreement, it was decided, on account of the war. to temporarily abandon the Australasian championships. which were to have been held at Brisbane, the understanding being that, when renewed, the programme of ord'or as agreed to at the Sydney Conrereiieo of IHI2 i,houhM>e adhered 1-. \\ it-h th<* consent of affiliated ln>di'o. tiie council, donated tho sum oi tor- i<> the .Tuupire Defence Fund.

The oa lanee-sheet snowed that the receipts for the season were £33] P« id. and the expenditure £l3? 17s dd'. !eav'•«J? a credit balance of £192 lis H\l. The following o«io.lals wen* apuointed : -Patron, the Hon A. L. Herdmau ; council committee, Messrs C. 'f. Aschman. (. . J. Cooper. J. T?, F;vans -I. T. oL'iervm. V. \Y. John-ton. A. H. Kirk and -1. R. 01!:v«r ; honorary secre-tary-trea-airor. Mr W. G. Ataek': honorary auditor. ">lr H. tj. Marsh. The oxi-cntive reported that t.ho Grevmouth Association had been granted permission to match P. Cook and J. Griffin tor the lir.'nt-weicrht championship ai Greyrnoutls on April o. Mr J. R. Tl/raiis v«s aimoin tod ehairman of the council for the year. The Otairo Association vrote rwommev.diii;; the roinstniemi nt- of J, M. Pator.-oii. 1 he recommendation agreed to. Ti"> Northern CAnel'landf ,\>m ■ •ai ion v.r ••• ri-coinrm-ndinc the «fi?iinii.>n of fie* \Vli:,mrnrf ; , ]{ox ; :ig uhMioiation. l ite r.-couiniondalion wa.* agree! to. Trie question of holdiup uli" N".-v 7. '• .. i championship > u. d ; . • ... ,1 Th. .•--■ •• " ri..-

conference held at- AVanganui in July losti had recommended that the meeting be allotted to the W*vke.'s_ t'a.v soHation. Tha.t hotly had w'j iti*- 1 " the couiii'i!. under date January 1-1 asi-.-iiur tor itA rii>\re on t-lio advisability ol on pry in r; out the events in r;i~-v, ui toe nnvioni..! crisis. As a'r ; !te uuk> <>; 'h ,A receipt of t-he theie >.i j '.'itii'd to bo a disposition on 11' »-■ part of other .sports bodies to cane-el their annua! championships tin* councU. decided u> J nil in lino it' this idea wer* carried out. Nothing of the hind, however, bad transpired. and at. "be holding of tlio meeting was. nm <-?;-l«nilaled to jot-on are with the authorities in the no'ttev of recruit in,e. iho oounci! decided to accept Jo re'commoiklatson or the \V anfraiuu confoi'onee. and allotted the events to the Jiawke's Bay Association. ("'■'i);sidoratioi> of the rjucei-ion t'ela.r----in l;. to tiruinnncia! a.-sociations was loft ov<>r ' r n future meeting. Tiie oounei' secretary t\:m instructed to hare the mles dealing with the r«ijistrai ion ><* holers, trainers ami instructors printed and circulated Atooiigst- atliliiiKvl Wlies.