SMALL PURSES THE CAUSE?

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 14

SMALL PURSES THE CAUSE?

Looking At The Question From

The Other Side

Be whatever it may, boxing present time is m the doldrums, THE good contests — contests which evinced great public interest — of two years back, are now.no more and" to say that business is flagging would be only putting the situation mildly. There is a reason somewhere for this unfortunate state of affairs. Prom the association point of view there is a tendency to hold off and decry local products. Which brings "N.Z. Truth" to a conversation held with a well-known — by repute and ability— boxer this week. For Obvious reasons his name is withheld. He was speaking for all m the game and to say he was a little sarcastic — Oh, no! V'You boxing writers will soon be out of the business like the boxers," was how he opened out. "Why? Well, it is easy to locate the cause of such a state of affairs. "Some clever man had a bright idea and used his brains to such an extent that purses were reduced. "Result! All the good fighters have left the country — or the game — and now — with a couple of exceptions — there are none here, worth more than the small associations are willing: to pay. "I think 'Truth' will agree with me on that point. Funny, too, that the officials think that purses are too high when their own salaries are as high — or higher— than before.

"Be a great idea if the boxers

throughout New Zealand at the 1 got together and decided that all ! paid officials should have a low i maximum put on their salaries! "Also I haven't heard anything about prices of admission being lowered. "So poor Mr. Public has to get stung both ways — poorer fig-hts at ths hl^hclass prices. "The ones who really get the knock are the first-class men who have to perform for the same amount as the poorer class men are paid. "Of course, some of the fighters are to blame. Anyway, our boys are good enough to get recognition and be successful m other countries and here they are not good enough to be paid decent money m their own land." From the above can be brought 'back to mind three of our boxers who have hit out for other climes. First, of course, is Tom Heeney, who did get a pretty fair run here, but it was not till he got to the States that his talent was really appreciated. Just fancy Heeney fighting for £150 when at the present time he is said to be worth £20,000 to Rickard! Purely cleared* out to Sydney, and Trowern, after leaving there owing: to the smallness of his cut, went back again. As small boys, all were taught to anticipate: "There's a good time coming." ' So far as boxers are concerned at the present juncture, the sooner it arrives the better. iiiijimiiiiiniimiimiiiiiiimiiiinimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiitiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimii