Protest At Bond On Empire Games Boxers

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 7

Protest At Bond On Empire Games Boxers

AUCKLAND, Dec. 5. Auckland inembers of the sub-com-mittee appoiuted to control boxing at the British Empire Games in Auckland uext February are backing the New Zealaud Boxing Council in its effort to have members of the New Zealand Empire Games boxing team reieased from the o'bligation to sign a bond, not to turn prof essional within two years ot ihe Games. The_ .Auckland members ot the sub-committee met today and afterwards sent the following teiegiam to the boxing council:— We are deisply loncerned at rePyrts that the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association requires a two-year amateur . .bond from all. New^- Zealand boxers- competing in the Empire Games. We consider that the decision will un doubtedly affect the standard of boxers available and see no good purpose in the enforcement of an unfair prineiple, We strongly urge- yOur eouncil to use every endeayour to have the Olympic council 's decision withdrawn. ' ' The sub-comiaittee also sent at lett^i to the New Zealand Empire Games ex ecutive stating that it considered that the decision would have a detrimentaJ effect on the New Zealand team. With' the letter went a copy of tlie telegram to the boxing council. The New Zealand light heavyweight' ehampi'on, Chris. Rollinson, of Auck land, stopped training when it was an nounced last week that Games boxers would have to sign the bond and has advised the Auckland Boxing Associa- • tion that he will not be available toi the final Games boxing trial on Saturdav at Palmerston North. Rollinson won two bouts at the North Islaud tritiis last month aft'er the New Ze.i land championships. Mr L. A. Tracy, boxing representa tive on the Empire Games AssociatioD Exeeutive, last week opposed the exeeutive '& decision to enforee the signing. of the bond by boxers. The cliairman of the boxing council Mr ,T. Simpson, has announeed thai his council does not consider the quus tion closed and will discuss it with representatives of provincial associations at Palmerston North next weekend.