BOXING AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2855, 21 August 1916, Page 8

BOXING AND THE WAR

AGITATION AGAINST SYDNEY STADIUM. A deputation from tho Council for Civic and Moral Advancement Association,'recently waited on the Now South Wales State . Secretary, Mr. George Black, to see whether steps should not be taken to place restrictions on tho boxing matches at the Stadium, or to close it altogether. This view, said tfio speakers, was not. confined to Sydney, he said, for the Farmers and Settlers' Association at their recent conference passed a resolution touching this subject. Sir Thomas Anderson Stuart, the president of the council, said this mattor had been moro or less precipitated by a notice which appeared m tho daily press that a bunch of American fighters—meaning by that prize-fighters-were to be brought here to fight prizefights at the Stadium in Sydney. ■ It was a little too much to go to America for people to fight. "I pass tho Stadium frequently," he added, "and hours before the fight commences crowds of men aro waiting. I think it acts as a certain means of distracting from the great concern of tho war. 1 see these crowds many times, and 1 think many of the men are fit, hefty young fellows who ought to bo at the front. One. can very well understand tho feelings of a mother who passes there and sees these crowds while her sons aro away. fighting. . "Wo feel that these boxing fixtures are becoming a scandal," said the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Wright. "Lotters lrom the front ask what Australia, was doing to allow so niany idle .men to bo about while the soldiers in the trenches were fighting for their country. "1 believe that distraction of certain kinds is necessary, even during tho war. This form of distraction is not necessary. 1 for one do • not decry boxing as a rule—it is good clean sport." . Professor Macintyre (vice-president) said that, in his judgment, these exhibitions were a moral nuisance in our community. They contributed nothing good whatever to tiie community,' and did not tend to cultivate manly traits. The Stadium was a moral blot'on Sydney and the State as a whole. If there are men in any way physically fit in Australia they should not be permitted to offend the susceptibilities of others who had given sons to the bitter fight. ' Thellev. Dr. Carruthers said that New South Wales was gaining an evil pre-eminence in this matter. At the conclusion of Dr. Carruthers's plea, Professor Macintyre said that, as chairman of tho War Committee, ■ he officially stated that "the existence of the Stadium has been a serious hindrance to recruiting." Mr. Black, in reply, said that there was , a great deal ■ more prize-fighting than ever. Since ho had been in office ho had refused' boxing licenses for several places. In connection with Gbulburn and Wollongong, he had been threatened that-strong pressure would be brought to bear on him. Keferring to men and the war, Mr. Black saic it was the idle rich and the idle loafer; who were the men they were iinabli to get at. The matter of the deputation was ono for the Cabinet. He would lay their. representations before it, together with those of the othei interests involved. v Professor Macintyre: What other interests ? Mr: Black: I think you must know them. I am not putting this Professor Macintyre: I would like t< know what other interests. Mr. Black: I am not goinw to be cross-examined. I will present the matter to the Premier on his return.