SELF AWAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1931, Page 7

SELF AWAKE

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND

A BOXER’S EULOGY

“I have never fceen treated more royally anywhere than 1 was by the people of New Zealand,” declared Pete Sarron, the well-known boxer, in an interview with a “Birmingham News” reporter on returning to his home town in Alabama, XJ.S.A. “The people there were very hospitable, very kind and considerate. AH the while there was nothing too good they could do for me. I was invited to the best homes and I also was the the guest of the very best hotels in New Zealand. I was treated more like a prince than a boxer. In all my travels I have never seen such a sporting crowd of people who stand for a fair play. “The people of New Zealand are self : awake, very quiet and conservative, and most of them are of English stock. They are clean livers and practically free of crime and poverty. New Zealand has not suffered from the present depression that is sweeping the United (States, I found. It is about the same all of the tlpie, just a good peace-lov-ing country. Boxing there is one of the two major’ sports, Rugby football being the other. “I was quite successful over there and I made as much money as I could have made anywhere. The type of boxers I mot there was nothing, but the gentlemanly type, such ns Johnny Leekle and Tommy Donovan, two of my opponents. I found them to be two of the cleanest flfhtera I ever met. Boxing js run on a fine plan, and it is kept clean, due to the efforts of the local associations, which conduct the shows. HOPES TO RETURN.

“When I stepped on the gangplank of the boat for home I regretted very much that I was leaving such a wonderful country as New Zealand. It was like leaving home, nnl I hope some day to go back to New Zealand, whether on business or pleasure, to renew friendships that will , never die. The friends I made were of the true kind, and I -will remember them forever. In my opinjon, New Zealand is one of the fcest places in the world in whit* to live.”

“'And-flew'Zealand likes Petey Sarron equally us well,” adls the Birmingham “New*.” ‘‘Petey went to New Zeaand ftfter he had beaten everything in Australia. New Plymouth heard, of Petey’s sensational climb in Australia and immediately went out after him. Thousands of those who had listneed in on his many victories over the radio smothered Sarron at the railroad station,- after they discovered him. Expecting to . see a husky, pug-nosed battler, those who greeted Sarron in New Zea]ancl almost missed him when his small, well-dressed figure hopped off tlio train and jumped into a waiting taxi.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH MATCH. “Tommy Donovan had beaten allcomers in his weight, and, for the lack of opposition, was acting as fireman on a New Zealand railroad when Sarron arrived there. So Donovan, came out of temporary retirement to draw the biggest crowd ever to see a fight in New Zealand. 20,000 fans in the broad open daylight. Sarron was arrested before one of his fights. Pete h»a<3 signed to fight Donovan indoors, but as bout time neared the association decided there would be more money outside. It changed the site, and Petey made himself known. However, an agreement was reached after Sarron had been arrested, to safeguard his leaving. The association also tried to sue Sarron for expenses. All of this merely aroused public sympathy for Pete and made him a bigger idol. “ A New Zealand paper charged Petey with going out to win, “ foul or fair,'’’and this cost the paper 250 dollars, with Petey on the receiving end. Pete sued for 1000 dollars, but compromised with 250 dollars. “ Petey now is a polished gentleman both in and out of the ring. He can sit down and talk with his newsboy understudies, or mingle with the best of society.’’