Exploitation
pp. 67-68 · Read in the full issue
Of Native
Boxers In Fiji
A RECENT visitor to Fiji says that boxing there is being exploited for the benefit of a few “shrewd-heads,” who have got a stranglehold on the sport, and are controlling it for their own profit.
The Fijians and their Polynesian cousins make marvellously good ex ponents of the real art of European box ing. They become skilled in the use of their fists, and they develop a very keen appreciation of the finer side of sports manship—so necessary in the ring.
But these young Fijians are simply being grabbed and inducted into the fight game, run for the considerable benefit of a group of promoters. The latter have got possession of the halls and theatres, they have the money for advertising, and they have been making great profits out of the promotion of fights between young Fijians in Suva, Lauioka, Ba, etc. What they are doing is quite legal—but it definitely is not a pretty picture.
Some time ago, Mr. W. G. Gay suc ceeded in reviving the old Fiji Boxing and Wrestling Association and, for a time, it looked as if much would be done in the encouragement of amateur boxing, and in giving a good training in the schools. However, Mr. Gay was trans ferred to Labasa, and the combination of that and other circumstances seemed to be too much for the Association’s much publicised plans; and nothing has been heard of the organisation for some time.
Meanwhile, fight-promotion has created an atmosphere that is not good f<pr the young Fijians who are drawn into it. In
so many words, they are being exploited for ttip benefit generally of rich fight promoters and especially of a motley col lection of hangers-on, Mr. D. S. Hore-Lacy, formerly a well known planter at Talasea, New Guinea, and now a resident of Kallista, Victoria, was married, in July, in Melbourne, to Mrs. Geoffrey Haggard. She is a daughter of the late Sir Geoffrey Syme, one of the owners of the Melbourne "Age”.
The former Eastern Administrative District of Fiji has been incorporated in the Southern District, which now com prises the Provinces of Kadavu, Naitasiri, Namosi, Rewa, Serua, Tailevu, Lau and Lomaiviti. The District headquarters are at Suva. The Eastern District has not had a separate District Commissioner for some years, but has been administered by the District Commissioner Southern.
The change of boundaries makes this ar rangement permanent.