BOXING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 5

BOXING

CONFEKENCF, OF ASSOCIATIONS. Representatives of boxing associations throughout New Zealand met in conference at the Accountants' Chambers, Wellington, yesterday, for tho purpose of d'.sc.ussing matters of interest to the, sport in the Dominion. Those present, were: Northern Association, Mr. A. H. Gillies; Hamilton. Mr. A. H. Gillies; Dawke's Bay, Mr. Maekorsey; Wanganui, Mr. Ishcrwond; Wellington, Messrs. Staples and B. A. Girw;' ChristclniTcli. Mr. T. E. Eobson; Greymouth. Mr. J F Wilson; Ashbnrton. Mr. 11. E. M'Elrea; Millorton, Mr. ,T. Prince; Otago, Mr. J. Isaacs; Westport. Mr. A. Nottle. Mi\ C. T. Aschman (Christchureh) presided in tho absence of Mr. B. M'Yilly, president of tho council. /' In opening the proceedings, Mr. Asohmnn urged that there sliouW bo no divergence from tho rules of the sport by any of the clubs in tho contests they promoted. Ho expressed concern at the j growth of betting and professionalism in connection with the sport. Quoting a ease of whore a man had openly and deliberately gone round a boxing ring soliciting bets, Mr. Aschman said that directly betting lwgan to play an. important part in a. sport that sport was doomed. The associations should repress that sort of tiling. Although a branch of amateur athletics, professionalism had crept in in New Zealand, and associations should seek to make the sport strictly amateur, and more general, in clubs and schools, as it had been among the troops at the front. Mr. Itobson remarked that, if boxing were to be kept alive, the commercial aim as regards nrnfes=iona!i 3 m should be dropnod. The New Zealand Council should, for,, the protect/on of all clubs, hnvo the right of .approval, or otherwise, of any competition hold by any club. All -professionals and referees should Ix 1 approved-bv tho council before being engaged, and if any professional or referee were engaged without such consent, the offending club should ho disqualified. Mr. Wilson also declared that there was a, danger of running info professionalism in New Zealand. The Dominion should be careful to keen proper control over the sport in the future, as it had done in (he pas.l:.

. Similar views being expressed by other delegates, the chairman said it should be understood that there was no objection to orofcssional boxing, but. professionalism should not be placed in front of amateurism.

On the motion of Mr. M'Elroa it was decided that permission may at any time

bo eiven by the "Boxing Council for a comnetition Ixmt between a professional and an amateur, but in advertising the bout it must distinctly be stated that it was an exhibition contest only. A remit from Greymouth proposed Hi."!: new district boundaries should be defined owing lo the alteration in tho electoral districts, which were previously the areas over which the various asociations had control. Tho Tomit was carried.

Mr. Wilson moved that a definite statement be obtained from tho authorities as lo whether boxing associations were liable for Ihe amusement tax. ITis association had paid amusement taxes at. their meetings on three or four occasions. '»

Mr. T!. A. Guise said that the Wellington Association had paid the tax on one occasion, hut subsequently, on renrosentation hnving been made to the Commissioner of Taxes, (lie money had been returned. i

Oilier delegates quoted similar exneri'nces. and it. was pointed out that a form existed which, if amateur bodies filled in. would exempt their gatherings from tht> tax

Mr. Wilson, however, urged that a definite statement should be obtained from the iiuthorilie?, and the resolution was carried.,

It. was decided on Hie million of Mr. Wilson Hint the cxnfw: of referees at linxinn contest? cmihl be paid out of Ihe nroceeds of Ihe ineeliinr.

The rule "dipulnting Hint n cnmnHilor to be eligible for :i championship mectinir must be resident In- six months in New Zealand prior to ihe conies', was allercd to make it non-applicable in the case of returned soldiers.