CORRESPONDENCE.

NZ Truth, Issue 144, 21 March 1908, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE WELLINGTON BOXING ASSOCIATION.

And the Control of the Game.

TO THE EDITPR

Sir,— The press of . Wellington, and I presume, ■ that of the country and other centres, last wieek were remarkable for the widespread publicity, given what, perhaps, can be truthfully deseffbed as "A sensation." Some sleuth-like person is alleged to have overheard two, Australian pugu* lists arranging to fight a "schleinter" m the event of one or other of the all too many so-called Associar tions putting up a purse. Granted that what the gentleman is reported to have overheard is true ; .assuming that the necessary precautions have been adopted to prevent the public being thus exploited, by swindlingpugilists, why is it at all necessary that the daily paper exposure should be converted irato a huge puff advertisement for a Boxing Association, or for any Boxing Association m New Zealand that allegedly controls the good old game m any district- of the Dominion ? Rightly or wrongly, the assertion has been freely made m Wellington that the boxing columns in"T,ruth ? ' are. con-trolled by a man named Coffej) who is identical with the individual who, is secretary of the Wellington! Boxing Association, and that, therefore, -that Association is immune from any censure or critic cism m the columns of your generally outspoken organ. This lettrr is intended as a test of the accuracy of , that statement ; its publication will dispel doubt and may, or mfey not, force a reply, or at least a. satisfactory- explanation, from the secretary. The non-publication of this protest must certainly be- capable of bearing, an unpleasant interpretation. Now, I desire .-to ask, and. expect to be informed, m whkt shape or. form has, the Wellihgtorf Boxing Association furthered the pastime m this city? Is there one person outside the membership who is aware of the Association's financial position ? Who of the -everyday Wellington public has ever yet seen an audited balancesheet ?. It will not be for a moment disputed that large crowds of (patrons of the noble art Have paid the prices of admission, ' which invariably run from 2s 6d to 10s. The purse offered has never been made public, and, if I reejollecfc ariigilit, ' it was '■'Truth' 'which mentioned that tho Association on several occasions made gifts to the 'loser above the loser's end of the purse. With : that no one finds fault. It will not be argued, surely, that ; the Association lost on their many deals, and if they did surely the* 3 ptiblic who' pay and. whose alleged interests are- being' conserved by this Association is entitled to some > statement of tiieir affairs, as. controlled, by this Association. How does this, Association control boxing ? Thi. j. or four, contests a year. One will hot' complain of that.. Where go the profits?;. Is there a gymnasium where budding boxers can. learn and. train ? Is the secretary always available? Is he ever courteous, willing, and* ready to give local or any' other talent an opportunity of "crossing blades" with any other recognised crack ? No, decidedly no ! The visiting "pugilist is snubbed and- insulted, he is not given the opportunity of , exhibiting his prowess ; not because the public do not desire it, but simply* that the Boxing Association are no.t prepared to entertain a challenge, and, m order that only the Boxing Association shall reap the benefit, what else results ? The daily and weekly press crack their whips, and the pug is, impressed with the majesty of the Association, because he learns that if he figjbts for a prize without?) the sanction of the Association he is liable to prosecution, the penalty be- " ing a- very severe one. It is not 'box-, ing the Association seeks .to control, it is the profits, and the . fooled public" whose, "interests" are thus con- , served are not even informed Where the profits go. v- The fact that a.member of this body is entitled, for 10s '6d per annum, to get a stage seat at every "contest, might also be, commenced upon, but' this subject mar m a future letter be more fully enlarged on. "The question before the House" is, where go the profits ?Is it true that the secretary awl treasurer each receive honorariums ?' If so, is that just to the public, who do not even- "know what the amount of the-, honorariums received are? Does if not. suggest that the Boeing Association is a you-scratch-my-back, and-I'll-scratch-yours\body, who are .handling public-* trusts for very private uses ? Agadn, I think it was m ?ast Saturday's "Post" that I read of a presentation that was made by. the Association to Mr E. BHin'deft, a member of the Association, on the occasion of his rharriaee. Sir, think you Ibhat members of the Association subscribed for that presentation ? Banish the thought. The. present, its value unknown, was not subscribed by members but came from the funds of this funnily financially . managed body. As a. patron of the •'gjve'rand-taice" sport. I nrotest ngainst this misuse of public, and not the Boxing Association's, funds. "'lt is just what might be expected. R».fchp.r that the game become' a thing .of the remote ages than that such a shifty body .should , run it for themselves m the name of tire public. — Yours, etc., ONE WHO KNO^S. Wellington. March 16. 1908. (The freely-made assertion made .by; "One Who Knows." that "Truth's" boxing columns are so controlled .as to render the W.B.A. immune, from censure or criticism, is an assertion at once ridiculous ' and absolutely without justification or foundation. The W.8.A. , like any other body, institution, or whatever it is called, will, if the occasion merits it, receive" "Truth's" attention, secretary or no secretary. This letter is given space, not because its suppression might bear "an unpleasant interpretation," but simply to give the secretary or any other official of the Boxing Association the opportunity of replying to the comments made by "One Who Knows." To "Truth's" way of thinking there is room for a reply or "satisfactory explanation," and beyond that this paper will say no more.— Ed "Truth.").