SARRON AND TARANAKI

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 45, 22 February 1930, Page 11

SARRON AND TARANAKI

LEGAL ACTION PENDING

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, 21st Feb. The Taranaki Boxing Association yesterday received: information by telegram that Pete Sarron would not fight Tommy Donovan as arranged hero on Ist March. . To-day the association's solicitor took steps in. connection with the association's claim against Sarron for £90 damages for breach of contract, and on the ground that it was believed Sarron was about to leave for Australia a warrant was issued. It is the general opinion amongst followers of boxing that most of the trouble has arisen through the Taranaki Association breaking the rules of the Now Zealand Boxing Association by offering a purse above the authorised amount, and attempting to stage a contest on a scale hitherto' unknown to New Zealand.. The rules of the New Zealand Association state definitely that a purse must not exceed £150 except in special circumstances when £200 may be offered by permission of the council. Tho Taranaki Association attempted to reap profit of well over £1000 on' the contest, and their charges were fixed as high as £2 2s for ringside seats. A hitch occurred when Sarron injured his hand and the contest was postponed for a week. Then Sarron asked for 25 per cent, of the gate and was. turned down. When interviewed on the situation by a "Post" reporter to-day, a prominent boxing official stated that the developments would very likely clear up tho rather unsatisfactory position in New Zealand boxing circles to-day. Some associations had deliberately broken tho rules regarding the limitation of purses, and the boxers, knowing this, had naturally commenced to put higher bids,, Had the associations stood firmly by the rules the trouble would not have arisen, as the boxers would have realised the uselessness of making demands beyond the limit. He thought that Taranaki had brought the trouble upon themselves, and hoped that the council would hold a full- inquiry into the whole position before the next annual conference. They had taken action in the 'case of Otago, and the southern associations would press for decision in tho new case. The Now Zealand Boxing Association was an amateur body, and associations had no right under the spirit of the constitution to stage big professional contests cat exorbitant prices. The whole position needed overhauling. The limitation of purses was a wise one, because associations were- often prone to over-estimate receipts, and it often took them years to recover from a big venture. , This was exemplified in Hawkes Bay. Furthermore, ,if a contest was successful, the limitation of the purse left a good margin for expenditure on the amateur, who was supposed to be the primary concern of all associations. For the good of the game it was up to. the council to act immediately. • '