THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 6, 1988.
SCOTTISH BOXING CRISIS
British Boxing Board Of Control Meet Glasgow Magistrates
"Fair Wages" Discussion
(By AIR MAIL)
London, May 28.
ing a letter to the Board of Control on the principal question raised at the ma- gistrates meeting,
Mr. T. Hamilton, legal adviser to the National Boxing Association, stated in an interview that the letter asked that immediate effect would be given to the proposal approved by Sir Iain Colqu- houn, making compulsory a deposit of n bond sufficient to cover the boxers
be granted.
"REVIEWER'S" SPORTS COMMENTARY
Boxers' Union Threat To The Board
▶RITISH boxing is threatened with one of the most serious upheavals
BRI
the activities of the Boxers' Union, now
Further, the letter asks if such # known as the National Boxing Asso- bond will be demanded of Mr. George ciation. The latest of these activities Dingley in respect of his forthcoming has led to the hold-up of the world's promotion at Paisley when the Lynch-fly-weight championship fight in Glas- Jurich fight will be the main feature.
A deputation from the British Boxing Board of Control was received yesterday by the Glasgow Magistrates Committee, follow-remuneration before the licence would in its stormy history as the result of ing upon allegations regarding boxing promotions made at a recent Questions regarding a fair wage meeting of the Magistrates. clause and Trade Union conditions of labour were put to the Board.
The deputation consisted of Sir Iain Colquhoun, Bt. of Luss, vice-president of the Scottish Council; Mr. William Walker, chair- man of the Scottish Council; Mr. W. G. Millar, secretary, and two members, Johnny M'Millan and Jake Kilrain.
Sir Iain asked the Magistrates cerned, and indeed, was functioning in if they had some standing prin- that direction.
The Senior Magistrate again asked ciple against the promotion of Sir Iain to assure the Magistrates of boxing matches. Replying, Mrs. the Board's willingness to co-operate Jean Mann, the Senior Magis-in making compulsory the question of placing money on bond before contests, trate, said that speaking gen- erally they were willing to grant and to this Sir Iain consented. licences provided that they were assured that certain conditions were being carried out.
Sirt
As an example, she pointed to the fact that the regulations issued by the British Boxing Board of Control made the condition regarding money placed on bond with a bank prior to a match permissible only, and she asked lain if the Board would be agreeable to make this compulsory.
Sir Iain expressed the opinion that the Board would be quite willing to agree to that proposal.
"FAIR WAGES CLAUSE”
Bailie Elgar then asked if the Board of Control looked unfavourably upon the Boxers' Association, pointing out that as members of the Corporation it would be their duty to see that the Standing Orders" of the Corporation were observed in respect of contracts. These conditions included a fair wages clause and Trade Union conditions of labour.
In his opinion, replied Sir Iain, the B.B.B.C. in itself was capable of get- ting the best possible terms for all con-
After the meeting, Bailic Mrs. Mann said that the discussion was likely to clear up a great many of the differen- ces between the Magistrates and cer- tain boxing promotions.
ALFRED PERRY ONCE AGAIN
Wins "Evening News" Pro. Tournament
London, To-day. Alfred Perry, of Leatherhead, "Evening won the final of the News" £750 professional tourna ment on Saturday at Cobble Hall, Leeds, Yorkshire.
He defeated Vernon Greenhalgh, of Prestwich, Manchester, 8 ups to play, and over 36 holes.
Perry was four up at the
BOXING ASSN’S. MOVE Following upon the meeting of the Glasgow magistrates with a deputation from the British Boxing Board of Con- trol yesterday, it was intimated last night that the Scottish Branch of the National Boxing Association is address-Reuter.
the
gow between Benny Lynch and American challenger, Jacky Jurich.
Representations made to the Glas- gow magistrates had the effect of the holding back of a licence for the tour- nament until the promoter recognised the N.B.A. and complied with that body's demands.
The Board has already taken action in this matter, for one of its stewards, Sir Iain Colquhoun, asked the magis- trates to receive a deputation from the Board of Control. (See main story on this page).
the
The hold-up is an outcrop of general activity of the union body and, whatever happens over the Lynch fight, the Board have still to tackle the main problem. The N.B.A. now claim to have over 1,400 members, the majority being active boxes, including most present British champions, and their threat to the authority of the Board is becoming serious.
of the
6
The threat, in brief, is to oust the 18th.-Board and to run boxing on trade un- ion principles, the N.B.A. being affiliat- ed to the Trades Union Congress.
The first point of friction concern- ed a strike clause-one usual among trade unions-in the. Union's rules. The Union (as they were then describ- ed) sought co-operation with the Board over grievances of minor boxers, and while the Board were very willing to deal with representatives of any body of men in boxing, they could not, of course, have any form of agreement with the Union until the strike clause, in particular, was removed.
Rapiers' Selections For To-day
Race No. 1
CONFUSION BAY
EXPRESSION TIME
JOBER
Outsider: Half-Moon Eve
OLD LIQUEUR BRANDIES
FOR
THE CONNOISSEUR
B. B. PALE OLD
'
F.O. V. (Finest Old Vintage)
GODET FRERES 1852
ROUYER GUILLET 1865
EXSHAW'S V. F. O. (60 years old)
NAPOLEON 1814
CALDBECK, MACGREGOR & CO., LTD.
Race No. 2
GOLD COIN VALOROUS
GOOD MORNING
Outsider: Estover
Race No. 3
+
BEAR CLAW
WILD LIFE
COSSACK'S BEAUTY
Outsider: Moonlight View Race No. 4
SNOWY RIVER
REX
VIOLET QUEEN
Outsider: Bag Tor
Race No. 5
STYMIE
LANCASHIRE CHAP LUCKY SEVEN
Outsider: Wenning Race No. 6
TYNE
ROSE-QUEEN KING'S LEAD
Outsider: Amberley Race No. 7
CENTRE COURT ANNABELLA KATINKA
Outsider: Dick Turpin Race No. 8
TABBY CAT.
TEMPEST
DIOGENES
Outsider: Ebony Idol Race No. 9.
SOLDIER OF CHINA JUNGLE JIM
ROYAL HIGHNESS
Outsider: National Defence Race No. 10
NEW STAR
✨ HONEYMOON. EVE
POTENTATE....
Outsider: Red Feather DAILY DOUBLE: STYMIE AND CENTRE COURT.
en-
"In fact," it was pointed out, "we might have found ourselves forced by agreement to side with the Union against another of our own members.” The Board has seven branches. Some of these branch councils consist tirely of men not financially interested.... The others have representatives of all concerned in boxing, including boxers. Every boxer has the right to appeal to the Stewards of Appeal who include Mr. Roland Oliver, K.C., Sir Walter Monckton, K.C., Sir William Bass (senior steward of the Jockey Club), Lord Londonderry, and others of sim- ilar repute and high standing in law and sport.
It was admitted that the Board had formulated no settled plan, as yet, to deal with an extremely difficult pro- blem.
ever
to
"We have taken no step what- to stop the association, and if this body sticks to legitimate func- tions, we have no intention of attack- ing them. But we shall continue insist that every boxer shall hold our licence and, remain under our control; and, of course, in every instance, where our authority is evaded or our mem- bers are attacked, we shall act with all the power we have. We are still hop- ing that we shall not be forced into anything like open warfare."
As far as is konwn there has never been a boxers' strike in Great Britain, except as concerned one particular tournament. But with the National Boxing Association in its present com- bative mood, the possibility' is there to-day.
One need hardly point to the futil- ity of boxers trying to runboxing. This sport needs every bit as much discipline as racing, and a good deal moro than football and most other sports;
We have curiously enough at the mo- ment a tendency, rather far atretched, among the popular critics to lay stress upon signs of deterioration,' in Univer sity standards of sport. Myself I have failed to see this. On the contrary, 1 see as good a standard-as ever, if not a better, and I see what even in these cynical days counts for much more, a very fino spirit—C, B. Fry..