§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the number of so-called "glove fights" for large stakes, at which the gloves are so thin that the combatants may do each other serious injury, and in some cases reported in the Press have done themselves serious injury; and whether he intends to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes, Sir; my attention has been drawn to one recent glove contest where, judging from newspaper reports, there would appear to have 869 been a breach of the law, but in which the evidence obtained showed that ordinary boxing gloves had been used for a few minutes only, and that the combatants had carefully avoided doing or receiving any serious injury. The Director of Public Prosecutions, in whose hands I placed the matter, was advised that the evidence in his possession was insufficient to establish a criminal charge. I shall not hesitate to direct proceedings in any case where there is sufficient evidence to afford a reasonable chance of a conviction.
§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in reply to a communication from me, he did not state that the facts of the disgraceful proceedings at the Pelican Club on the 11th of November would be carefully inquired into?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe whole answer which I have just given has relation to that case.
§ MR. COBBHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact that a great number of these disgraceful contests have been taking place, especially at Leicester.
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am not aware of it.