”The Lords” and Pugilism

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1735, 18 September 1885, Page 3

”The Lords” and Pugilism

’Hit aristocratic members) of the Upper Ilf, in bale beau uusuccuotluily attempting to Ululate abo ut " skin-glove lights." In ths Legislative Council on 'luisday the Colonial Secretary moved new clause* in (Injustices i f tin I'eaeo Act, providing if any psr.-ouh shall engage together in boxing or airing. or at any pretended glove fight, without Coveting [he hands and wearing padded p'ovts of toe kind aud manufacture commonly known us boxing-gloves, each of the persons so engaged, and every person euCouiag.ng, aiding, or assisting such per song, or being present at any such engagement, shall be acemed to be gnilty of an offence, and may La appreudtd without warrant by any constable, and, on conviction before any two Justices of the Peace, eliali severally be liable to a penally not exceeding £-J0 for each such i ffence, or to he imprisoned for any period not exceeding three months.” Now this action on the part of the Colonial Secretary apjears to us to have been uncalled for. We; have seen a i.umber of " glove-lights ” in Wellington and elsewhere, but the combatants always wore the usual horse hair padded boxing glove, ami did no huim to each other. A tight with " skm gloves " is a very different affair, 'the gloves are only a pietei.ee and the men might just as well lignt «iih their bare lists. I’-nl wo nevei r a w a light with " skm-gloves," in New Zealand, and the padded glove fights were very uiill and innocent affairs. However, “ the Lords " negatived the proposal of the Colonial Secretary, so that we suppose “ skin-glove ” tights are not yet forbidden by law. There is a great deal of humbug m this world. A " skmfkive " light, is only a prize light, disguised.