PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 586, 14 August 1909, Page 10

PROFESSIONAL BOXING.

Sir,—Almost language fails mo to express my disapprobation,: almost disgust, at the decision of tho City Council to allow a professional boxing contest to take place at tho Town Hall on Wednesday next. Everyone who knows anything is perfectly well aware that - the conduct of boiang exhibitions in Wellington for some time past has rcaohed. a depth of depravity which has . been the subject of comment among tlioso who have not attended them. I myself, somo timo ago. attended the professional bout between Godfrey and 'Elliott, foV tlio light-weight championship of Now Zealand. Both men fought, hard for fifteen rounds, each round occupying three minutes, but mercifully neither man was permitted by Providonce to commit the crimo of murder. In fact, not a drop of blood was'spilt, but consider what might have happened; And this in : a Christian community, whero onco a' year ; wo sing-ror somo of us do—a song about "peace lo men and goodwill I" What goodwill, I ask, can Godfrey possibly have for Elliott? And what has tho Boxing Association to answer for? Just imagine; 'MiV- Editor,-, the loadof responsibility they , are piliiig up for the Day of Reckoning! • How many cheeks have they: turned: to thtTsmite'r? It is appalling. I.aojnot-.know that Scripture makes 'anyire?', fereiico to ■ the'.sinitor who. smites for money, but I fancy there must, be a particular anathema invented ;for him. Can you possibly ]iriagine.i.any...:satio into' a ring (which, by - the bye,- is four-sided) to stand the-chance.of .-being.knoelted insensible? Caii you imagine anyone b'eing so lost t-o all .'sense tif decency: that no should 'learn to ..tiirn' tho other clieek not to, but from, the-smitcr,'so us.to avoid, the possible impact?_ The. idea is atrocious; it is simply flying in tbo' face< of Providence.. ■ :' : ' - ' - 1 . . And, again! Everyone who tnows ,any 7 .thing -knows :that,-by- letting tha Town Hall for'-this'. : vulgar; purpose, s the property of ' tho public is endangered. . What - happened on several occasions at the Opera House when bosing- exhibitious took place? Did not tlie bloodthirsty ruffians who watched tlio brutal exhibitions tear up the seats ia their frenzy, smash' down tho barricades, storm the ring, and nearly murder the' gory combatants ? Did not ono of: tlie vice-presidents plead With tho crowd for mercy, and is ' it not a fact t-liat he was allowed to get away through tho stage doori simply on account of his' high official-position? Youand I and all -of us, sir, know the class that controls boxing in this city of lawlessness, and you and I and all of us know that there is nothing to bo said in its favour. Why should, anyono .waiit - .to;-learrt', to -protect'•himself. -The police are always' with us, and what ' the police do not.see tit. to do, surely wo should not ;att-ompt.—l am, etc., 1 . PAX VOBISCDM.