APPEAL TO BOXERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1840, 15 June 1918, Page 2

APPEAL TO BOXERS.

TWO young betters, who were to tight at Sydney Inst Kjihmlay night, applied to a doctor' for the usual inedieal eertifieate {writes the Post Sydney eorrespondenl), The doetor happened to he a returned soldier, and, although a well-known “sport,” he at first refused, pointblank. Finally he agreed, on condition that he was allowed to speak from the ring. He spoke, ami much to the point. He asked why the boxers were not. at the front, and went on: “Friends, twelve months ago, at Messines, I saw your own Australian brothers coming out of the trenches after 21 days of continuous and strenuous lighting, and if you had seen those tired Australians, there is not a man in this audience hut would have said, ‘By God, I will take their place.’ Yet here in Australia, men of the physique of Cook and Walls (boxers) tight for amusement, while our brave Australian boys are dying for want of assistance on the fields of France. I would not have given these two men a certificate but for the fact that I know Jimmy Sharman (the promoter) is a right good sport, and I would not put him in a corner. I make this offer to Cook —if he enlists and goes to the front I will insure him for £2OO, and if Walls will go I will get a friend to insure him for a like sum,” The packed audience received the appeal almost in silence, Neither of the boxers immediately responded to the offer.