NEW ZEALAND BOXING COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11669, 8 April 1916, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND BOXING COUNCIL.

The fourteenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Boxing Council was held on April 7, Mr J. li. Evans presiding. • Tiie annual report was. as follows: The terrible conflict which is raging in Europe, Asia.-and Africa has aftected all branches of sport in the Dominion, inasmuch as the bulk, of the eligibles ' connected with them. have donned • Khaki. -And- it is dbubtful if: any sport has suffered to such an extent as boxing.. ■ Ever since the outbreak of" war the ranks of the reinforcements have received a steady flow of competitive boxers, and to-d'ay scarcely a boxer, of military age is, to be rou'nd. in the Dominion. 'lt may not t b3 out of place to refer to the fact that the trained boxer is generally an acceptable''.."recruit. The resiilt-of "Uie dearxlnof competitors, and the turning of the public mind to matters of more vital interest, has been that practically all the smaller boxing associations ceased operations for the ssason. The larger associations carried out a few competitions, mostly for the purpose of assisting patriotic funds, but tne season can be said to have been an offseason for practically all local associations. ■ Shortly after the annual meeting of the council, the und'esirability of making any attempt to carry out. the Ne;v Zealand championships was apparent, and they wera abandoned, a similar decision being come to with_ regard to the Australasian championships. The lists containing the names of New Zealanders who have fallen in battle include those of a number of the Dominion's amateur and ' professional boxers, those _ best known being J. Hagerty, light-weight professional

champion; G. Savoury,' amateur heavy-weight champiou; and _F. Kerr, feather-weight champion, 1910. A number have Wen wounded, and' have, since rejoined the forces; other 3 have been invalided home, and of these some will again take their places in the firing line while others have been discharged. Early in the season, local associations were requested l to furnish the council with the names of the boxers who had enlisted • from their respective districts. Lists were forwarded', but since their receipt the numbars have been considerably augmented by later recruits. It i.s intended that- the roll of honour shall be a complete record of the followers of the. sport of boxing in the Dominion who have taken part in the great war. The- council desires to place on record its appreciation of the unhesitating response made by boxers under its jurisdiction to the call of their Kino: and' country, and its deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who have dons their duty nobly and have fallen in the doing. Early in the season the council decided to suspend tile rule relating to the annual fees payable by local associations, the funds in hand being ample to meet the reduced working expenses. Several professional championships were held!, the titles in three classes —bantam, lisrht and heavy changing hands. , The winners resoecfavslv arc: J. LncTbury M. James and H. 'Hardwick (Sydney). The heavy-weight championship took place a.t Auckland) "between flflrdvrick and Pooley. The winner having returned to Sydney, th' 9 title ill levei t to "Poolev. . The balance-sheet showed receipts £2Ol 7s 10d", expenditure £69 lis 6d, leaving a. credit balance of £l3l 16s The report and balance-sheet were adooted. . The following officials were appointed:—Patron, the Hon A. L. Herdman ; Council Committee, Messrs C T. Aschman, C.J. Cooper J R Evans, J. F. Grierson, F. W. Johnston, A. R. Kirk and J. R. Ollivei^, honorary secretary-treasurer, Mr W. Ct. Atack; honorary auditor, Mr H. E. Marsh. . Mr J. R. Evans was elected chairman of the committee, and Messrs C. T. Aschman. A. R. Kirk and the chairman were elected an _ executive. _ In view of existing conditions, it was decided to suspend the rule relating to the payment of fees by local associations; also that it was inadvisable to carry out the New Zealand and Australasian championships.