Who Was The Shovelling King?

NZ Truth, Issue 1205, 3 January 1929, Page 3

Who Was The Shovelling King?

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative). THOUGH there are ample facilities provided by sporting organiza-. tionVfor people who are pugnaciously inclined, there are. still many members of the community who prefer to do their fighting m the public gaze, unpromoted and unheralded. The .world's shovelling championship was at stake, verbally, m Christchurch, when Leonard Canty and Thomas Ayers, two young laborers, agreed over two mugs of beer, on a wager, to decide which „ of the two could swing the "banjo" with greatest. ease and efficiency, but there was no mention, of points for style/capacity and stamina. Hardly had they left the hotel, however, when, according to the story of Canty, Ayers planted him one on the jaw. Canty whipped off his coat and retaliated by knocking his opponent down with what he called a "fend." So they were led along to the police court to explain their conduct to Magistrate H. P. Lawry. 7 Ayer3 pleaded guilty, but Canty protested his innocence, though he admitted that he had struck Ayers, m defending himself against a blow delivered without the slightest provocation. The fight was staged at the corner of Cashel and Colombo Streets,' one of the busiest intersections m the city, and sortie two' hundred spectators were treated to a few hectic, minutes of crude pugilism. Canty admitted two previous convictions for throwing his weight \ around at inopportune moments, once on the West Coast and once m " ' Christchurch. ; y v .: Each of the combatants was fined^ £2, failing payment of which the prison authorities will have no objection to the shovelling -cham- *y pionship being decided.at Paparua. ; b/yvy.-. ;■ jr -ify! ~jy '