BOXING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 296, 9 May 1911, Page 7

BOXING

NEW PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Boxing Association was held last evening, Mr. L. li. Webster presiding. The report was presented as follows: The comniittee- congratulated tlx members on the improving position of the association. At the adjourned annual meeting held in September, 1910, the association's credit balance stood at I £2 9s. On March 31st, 1911, the credit balance amounted to £ls 19s 3d. Against this, however, there are liabili- j tics estimated at not more than £8 or £9, so that it will be seen that the financial position is improving. The condition of the sport itself is improving in the province. Since the last annual meeting boxing clubs have been 1 formed at Opunake, Oakura, and Eg-1 mont Village, and an association is in progress of formation at Stratford. In November last a tournament was held in the Drill Hall, New Plymouth, the j programme comprising a novice com-j petition, (two weights), and three | special matches. One of the special' matches for the amateur heavy-weight championship of the province was won by G. Hawkins. Although this tournament did not yield a large profit, it so pleased the spectators that boxing in New Plymouth must benefit from it. No championship tournament was held in 1910. This year, however, the championship tournament has been decided at '•Stratford. Latterly several important questions had been engaging the committee's attention, and it was hoped that the incoming committee would keep these in mind. One was that of affiliation with the New Zealand Boxing Council. Although a properly constituted and registered body, this association had not been affiliated with the New Zealand Council. It therefore had no right to send representatives to the New Zealand boxing championships tourney—although this barrier had not been raised through the courtesy of the council—and it has had no voice in the general management of the sport in • New Zealand. As a result of the corres-1 pondence which passed between your > secretary and the secretary of the New Zealand Council and other prominent men in the boxing world in New ZeaJad, last year, Taranaki, which had formerly been an appendage to the Wellington Boxing Association's district, will become a separate district, with headquarters at New Plymouth, as soon as the affiliation was carried out. This committee would then become the centre committee for the province. The committee has already applied for affiliation at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council, which is usually held in May. The question of sending a . team to the next New Zealand championships tournament, to be held in Inyercargill, should be considered by the incoming committee, as should also the obtaining of a permanent hall or shed when funds permit. This might be arranged in conjunction with football clubs or other sports bodies in New Plymouth. Arrangements are now .under way for a tournament to be held in New Plymouth at an early date. The thanks of the association are due to Mr. A. Lovegrove for a donation of four silver medals for the November tournament, and for other assistance; to another member_ of the committee, who desires to remain anonymous, for a gold medal: and also to Mr. J. Bennett for the donation of a medal. The committee has also to thank the various doctors have kindly acted as honorary medical advisers, and all gentlemen who have assisted at the tournaments. ' Mr. G. Griffiths pointed out that the report, which had been drafted by the secretary, hud been passed by the committee at the end of a heavy meeting, and in the hurry the matter of reference to the lion, secretary's services had been omitted. He would move that a vote of thanks be added to the report expressing the committee's hearty appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Mr. Cliappell. Mr. Griffiths paid further tribute to the secretary. Mr. Griffiths' remarks were heartily endorsed by the chairman and Mr. Stagpoole. The report and balance-sheet were adopted with the above addition to the report. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr. L. B. Webster; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. Grey, C. 11. Weston, and W. .1. Williams; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. L. Chappell; management committee, Messrs. G. Griffiths, A. Lovegrove, J. •T. Stagpoole, F. Lovegrove, B. Tippins, and the officers; hon. auditor, Mr. K. Webster; hon. medical examiners, Drs. Wylie, Home, Leatham, Blackley, Walker, and McClcland.

The secretary reported that at the animal meeting: of the New Zealand Boxing Council on the 3rd inst., the New Plymouth Association had been admitted to affiliation, mid constituted the headquarters of the Taranaki centre. The association's officers were formally appointed the officers of the centre. A requisition signed by fifteen persons was presented to the meeting, asking the association to include wrestling within its jurisdiction. Tile requisiton was favorably considered, and the question of the rules, etc., under which wrestling would be conducted was referred to the incoming committee, to whom was also referred the revision of the association's genera) rules. The secretary reported that Mr. Edward Clarke had presented the association with ft handsome gold medal, to be competed for at the tournament in June, and allotted as the committee thought fit. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Clarke.

Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing officers, the hou. medical examiners, and the Press.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee, it was decided that, should the efforts to match M. Ryan, formerly heavy-weight champion of New Zealand, with (t. Hawkins, for the tournament on .Tune Ist, prove unsuccessful, the secretary should endeavor to ' secure P.| of Blenheim, as an opponent j to Hawkins in a six-round bout.