NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 8

NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB

MR T. M. WILFORD ENTERTAINED Prior to the big bout at the boxing entertainment at the Town Hall lastnight, Mr A. Curtayne expressed a few words of welcome to Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., a patron of the association, upon hifl return from England. Mr Wilford, in response, recalled the time 17 years ago when, during his Mayorality, permission was given to conduct boxing in the Town Hall, as he believed, if boxing was to be permitted it was best that it should take place where everyone could see what was going on. For some months past he was a regular visitor at the National Sporting Club, which body made him most welcome upon the presentation of his credentials from the New Zealand Association. Mr Douglas, father of the famous cricketer and boxer, was his host. He also mentioned that the marines in the British Navy had their money on Tunney in his fight with Dempsey, and sent him good wishes, hoping that he would win as the representative of the marines of the two greatest navies in the world. The speaker also met Lord Jellicoe. who said that he would never forget New Zealaud. In conclusion he said New Zealand had nothing to learn from other countries a* to the manner in which it conducted boxing contests. Mr . Curtayne announced that members of the association had seen the film of the Tunney-Derapsev fight, and the association recommended it as the beet film they had ever seen in Wellington. It is to be released at the King’s Theatre very shortly, and includes some slow motion shots, which show the blows exactly.