BOXING WOMEN

Shannon News, 16 April 1926, Page 4

BOXING WOMEN

HOME SECRETARY'S DISGUST. BOUT ABANDONED. \ Described by the. British Home Secretary, Sir William JoynsonHicks, as a "disgraceful exhibition," the boxing contest between Miss Annie Newton and Miss Madge Baker, fixea to take place at Hackney, on February 14, was abandoned. Almost at the same time as it was announced that the bout had been abandoned it was reported that the Home Secretary had sent the following letter to the Rev. F. B. Meyer, the Nonconformist leader: — - Dear Mr Meyer.—l have received your letter relating to the proposed boxing niatch between two women. I have considered with great care whether there is any law which >I can put into force to prevent it from, taking piace; but if the proposal is to arrange ' a spai'ring match in which the object is not to win by reason of the severity of th x e injuries, such an exhibition would not be illegal and I should have no power to interfere, mainly, because I think the Legislature never imagined that such a disgraceful exhibition would be staged in this country. I can only express my entire sympathy with your views and say that I hope and trust that the influence of decent public opinion will prevent such an outrage from taking place.—W. Joynson-Hicks. This contest was originally arranged to take place at the Pitfleld street. Hoxton, Baths, but, was banned by the Baths Committee of the Shoreditch Borough Council. The promoter, Mr Harry Abra-. < ham, said he had cancelled the contest becaxise he found! piiblic opinion so strongly against it. He added: "When I arranged the bout I had no ; idea it would be. so badly received. ; Rather than risk any interference jby the Home Secretary I have decided to cancl it." j i The Mayor of Hackney (hte Rev. William King) said: "I and my council determiner} to do everything possible to stop the light, and I had alrdady written to the Home Secretar yasking for his intervention."