THE WELLINGTON BOXING ASSOCIATION.

NZ Truth, Issue 145, 28 March 1908, Page 7

THE WELLINGTON BOXING ASSOCIATION.

And the Control of the Game.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir,— l was astonished when 1 read "One Who Knows" letter on. the Wiß. A. But do you not think it .-.a , pity that the writer did not sighihis name, and so^show that he h«'d some backbone.. It is a scandalo-is thing:, that Ernie Bhmdell should get a valuable presentation from the Associa-' "tioh funds. Why, Ernie Blundell is worth more, than the rest -of the; Association put together, and he can well afford to pay for his own wedding presents. When is the annual meeting? We must get the present pilferers kicked out.— Yours, etc., ' r A. ROBERTSONS Kelburne, March 22, 1908. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— l read the letter of "Obi. Who Knows" m last week's "Ttutti" and would ask for space to endorse his remarks. I competed m two j tournments under the W.8.A. :-, and know of what I. write. This Assor ■■ ciation is oornposed of a body. of men who know littele or nothing of boxing itself, and- abotfo as much! of j the manaßtog and arranging*, of contests. Since its formation m 1903, ] it has held aboo* tea amateur and professional; iCan'tests,. and the ama-

teur displays by the local men have, instead of imp Loving each year, become poorer. The fault is that t-he W.B.A. has done nothing whatever to raise the standard ami spread the knowledge of boxing. When it is decided to hold a tournament whoever comes along is accepted as a competitor,, matcjhed, his name advertised, big prizes made for admission, and the Association does not know if he has trained, m fact, if he has ever had a glove on. Here is an instance : When Godfrey, the feather-weight crack, first appeared m Wellington, he was matched with a local man, and the result was that the bout was stopped m the first minute. The local lad had not the slightest knowledge of the game. Now, if, instead of voting each other wedding presents and bonuses from its funds, the Association provided a gymnasium, gloves, bag, anfl appointed a proficient man to coaph, it could, through knowing the merits of each man, make better matches, and so ensure better displays. By doing something such as this it would justify its existence, which, up till now, it -has failed to do.— l am, etc., ANOTHER WHO KNOWS. Wellington, March 24, 1908.,