BOXING CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14119, 23 July 1909, Page 4

BOXING CONFERENCE.

ASSOCIATIONS' DELEGATES MEET. This morning at the rooms of Mr E. S. Wilson the delegates of the affiliated Boxing Associations of the Dominion mot in conference. 'Those present were Dr Ritchie Crawford (Southland, in the chair),.and Mr W. Atack (secretary of the New Zealand Boxing Council), Mr A. Dickson (Christchurch and Hawke's Bay), Mr W. Coffey (Wellington, Manawatu, and Horowhenua), Mr J. H. Trudgeoh (Northern), Mr Russell (Westland), Mr R. W. Laing (WeUington), Mr A. Hornibrook (Christchurch), Mr H. Sharplin (AshbuTtan), Mr R. Cook (Timaru), Mr F. Waddell (Timaru), Mr J. Isaacs (Otago), Mr J. Drumm (Otago), and Mr G. M'Donald (Southland). Mr Coffey intimated that an application was being made by Nelson for affiliation, but Mr Atack stated that the Council had not yet been notified of the existence of an association at Nelson. —The Council's Headquartens.— A remit was received from the Wellington Association to the effect that the rule I of the Council relative to its constitution nndeT the heading "name and headquarters" be altered to read that "the Association be known ae the New Zealand Boxing Council, and the head-quarters shall be at Christchurch, or such other place as shall bo determined by a majority vote of the affiliated associations, 6ueh vote to be taken at any time on the request of two or more associations." Mr Coffey said that the Wellington Association were not doing this with any idea of removing the Council's headquarters to Wellington, as had been suggested. They were quite satisfied with Christchurch as headquarters. The reason for the remit was that at some future time there might be maladministration by the Council, and the constitution did not. at present permit of the headquarters being shifted. Boxing control was a delicate matter, and those concerned were anxious to prevent an occurrence similar to what had took place in another sport. Mr Dickson said that the rules provided that the Council was the only body that could alter the constitutional rules, and then r.ot by a bare but by a three-fifths majority. He moved, as aji amendment—"That the Association shall be known as the New Zealand Boxing Council, and the headquarters shall be at Christ' :rch, or at such other place as shall be determined by the necessary majority of the affiliated associations us provided by the general rules." As regarded the necessary majority, he was using that term because he intended later to move to alteT the rules in relation thereto. Mr Coffey, having heard Mr Dickson's proposals, withdrew his motion in favor of the amendment, which was then seconded by Mr Cook and carried. A remit from the Christchurch Sports' Club, recommending that the Conference discuss the Council's rales, with the object of suggesting alterations to meet present conditions, was brought forward by Mr Dickson, who took this opportunity to move to alter the rules to provide the necessary machinery to give effect to the proceeding resolution. His motion read: —"That the rules may be altered or added to on a mail ; vote taken by the Council of all affiliated associations. The general and competition rules may bo altered or added to on a bare majority mail vote, but in the case of the constitution rules they shall not be Altered or added to unless three-fifths oi all the locnl tissociations sbaill vote in favor of the alterations or additions. On the. application of any two local associations the secretary and treasnrer of the Council shall forward the necessary voting paper to each local association within fourteen days of receiving notice of the proposed alteration, all voting papers to be returned by local associations within one month of receiving same. Any proposed alteration or addition brought forward and rejected shall not be brought forward again during that financial year. In the event of a propositi being carried to alter the headquarteis, the change shall take effect from the beginning of the next financial year." Mr Dickson said that it would not be good for the sport to have its headquarters continually shifted, and on that account he advocated the threefifths majority vote. Mr Trudgeon seconded the motion. Mr Coffey advocated the bare majority vote, and moved an amendment substituting in the above a clause providing that the constitutional rules might be altered by a bare-majority vote. The amendment was rejected by 8 votes to 3. and the motion was carried. Another motion of Mr Dickson—that all meetings of the Council shall be held at headquarters, the annual meeting to be held in May of each year—was carried. —The Centre System.— Mr Atack drew attention to the fact that the resolution carried by last year's conference at Christchurch in favor of the abolition of the centre system of government had, after being referred back to the Association and reaffirmed by them, not been given effect to, and in consequence of representations by Auckland and Southland the Council had decided to have tho whole matter revived by tho present conference. A general discussion on the subject ensued, the great majority of the delegates expressing themselves as strongly against the smaller tissociations having direct control in local matters, as it might lead to the introduction of undesirable elements, which a centre if in existence would be able to cope with and suppress. Mr Dickson pointed out the difference between the true centre system, in which a separate body represented the district, and the system by which the head or principal association in the district, acted as the governing body. He instanced Canterbury Centre, and said that the distance between Westland and Christchurch prevented the Christchurch Association keeping in close touch with matters in Grey mouth. He suggested that the Council might lie recommended to draw up a scheme outlining a more systematic method of government.

Mr Coffey said that he intended moving a resolution recommending a revision of the territorial districts. As a tirst step he moved that Auckland and Poverty Bay be constituted a district, with headquarters at Auckland.—This was carried. On the motion of Mr Dickson the conference recommended the constitution of the following districts:—Wellington Province, Nelson, a'nd Marlborough, with headquarters at Wellington ; Hawkc's Bay, with headquarters at Hastings; Taranaki, with headquarters at New Plymouth; Westland, with headquarters at Grey-mouth (moved' by Mr Coffey) ; North Canterbury (north of the Ashhurton River), with headquarters at Christchureh.

Ihe boundaries of tho three remaining districts—South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland—we.ro referred to a sub-eom-mittoe, consisting of delegates from those districts.

Mr Dickson moved that the local Association at the headquarters of earn tcrri. torial district shall bo the Centre Committee of such district, Mid that the Council make the consequential alterations in (, ne rules necessary to carry this out. This was seconded by Ml- Coffey and carried.

It was decided that the rule providing that all nominations of contestants .should be made through the Association of their districts.

On Air Coffey's motion it wa* decided that no amateur trophy exceed £5 in value.

(Lefi Kitting.)