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Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 1974

Chapter 300.

Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 1974.
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INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

Chapter 300.

Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 1974.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS.

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

AN ACT

entitled

Boxing and Wrestling Control Act 1974,

Being an Act to provide for the regulation and control of boxing and wrestling contests, and for related purposes.

1. INTERPRETATION.

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears–

“building” includes any booth, tent or temporary structure;

“contest” means–

(a) any boxing match, boxing competition or boxing exhibition; and

(b) any wrestling match, wrestling competition or wrestling exhibition,

where–

(c) a charge for admission is made; or

(d) a collection is taken; or

(e) those present are invited or permitted to throw money into the ring or deposit money elsewhere in the place; or

(f) on the result of which depends the payment of any stake, bet or prize;

“medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1980;

“place” includes a public place and a building;

“promoter”, in relation to a contest, means the person responsible for organizing and arranging the contest;

“series of contests” means more than one contest organized by the same promoter and held on the same day and in the same place;

“this Act” includes any regulations made under this Act.

2. APPLICATION OF SECTION 75 OF CRIMINAL CODE 1974.

The provisions of Section 75 of the Criminal Code 1974 are not affected by this Act.

3. PERMIT FOR CONTEST.

Any person who promotes, holds or is engaged in a contest in relation to which a permit has not been granted is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

4. APPLICATION FOR PERMIT.

An application for a permit to hold a contest or a series of contests shall be–

(a) in a form approved by the Minister; and

(b) accompanied by the fee of K10.00; and

(c) lodged by the promoter with the Minister not later than 14 days before the date of the contest or the first of a series of contests.

5. ISSUE OF PERMIT.

(1) The Minister may, where he is of the opinion that the contest or series of contests will be held in accordance with this Act, grant the application and issue a permit for the conduct of the contest or series of contests in a form approved by the Minister and in any other case he shall refuse the application.

(2) A permit issued under Subsection (1) may be issued subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit and as are endorsed on the permit.

6. COPY OF PERMIT TO POLICE, ETC.

A copy of the permit issued in respect of a contest or series of contests must be–

(a) given by the promoter to the officer-in-charge of the police station nearest to the place where the contest or series of contests is to be held, not less than seven days before the holding of the contest; and

(b) affixed by the promoter in a conspicuous position at the entrance to the place in which the contest or series of contests is to be held.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K50.00.

7. REFUND OF FEE ON REFUSAL OF APPLICATION.

Where the Minister refuses an application for a permit under Section 5 he shall refund the permit fee to the applicant.

8. EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF FEE.

The Minister may, where he is of the opinion that a contest or a series of contests is of a strictly amateur nature, exempt the promoter from the payment of the permit fee.

9. HEALTH CERTIFICATE.

(1) A person who engages in a contest unless he has obtained from a medical practitioner, within five days before the date of the contest, a certificate stating that, in the opinion of the medical practitioner, he is fit to take part in the contest, is guilty of an offence.

(2) A promoter who allows a person, who has not obtained, or who has been refused a certificate referred to in Subsection (1), to take part in a contest is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

10. MEDICAL PRACTITIONER TO BE PRESENT.

(1) A contest shall not be held or continued unless there is a medical practitioner present who, prior to the commencement of the contest–

(a) has been informed by the promoter of the results of the previous contest of each person taking part in the contest; and

(b) has examined the medical certificate obtained under Section 9.

(2) A promoter who allows a contest to be held or continued in contravention of Subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

11. MEDICAL PRACTITIONER MAY DIRECT REFEREE TO STOP CONTEST.

(1) A medical practitioner referred to in Section 10 may direct the referee to stop a contest if he is of the opinion that any continuation of the contest is likely to cause serious injury to any of the persons taking part in the contest.

(2) A referee who fails or refuses to comply with a direction of a medical practitioner under Subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

12. SALE, ETC., OF ALCOHOL PROHIBITED.

(1) Subject to Subsection (2) a person who sells, supplies or consumes liquor at a place where a contest or series of contests is being conducted is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

(2) Subsection (1) does not affect–

(a) the right of the licensee of a club licensed under the Liquor (Licensing) Act 1963to sell or supply liquor to a member of that club for consumption by that member on the licensed premises; or

(b) the right of a member of a licensed club to consume liquor on those licensed premises.

13. STOPPING OF CONTEST BY POLICE.

(1) Where a member of the Police Force has reason to believe that–

(a) a contest or series of contests is being held for which no permit has been issued under Section 5(1); or

(b) a contest or series of contests is being held in contravention of the conditions of the permit issued under Section 5(2) in respect of the contest or series of contests; or

(c) a continuation of the contest or series of contests will result in a breach of the peace,

he may order the promoter to stop the contest or series of contests, as the case may be.

(2) A promoter who fails or refuses to obey an order of a member of the Police Force under Subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

Penalty: A fine not exceeding K100.00.

14. REGULATIONS.

(1) The Head of State acting on advice may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters that by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and in particular prescribing matters providing for and in relation to–

(a) the conduct and regulation of contests; and

(b) the safety, convenience and control of persons attending contests; and

(c) the standard of buildings where contests are held; and

(d) penalties of fines not exceeding K200.00 for offences against the regulations.

(2) The regulations may adopt all or any of the Rules for International Competition and Tournaments published by–

(a) the International Amateur Boxing Association; and

(b) the International Amateur Wrestling Association.

Office of Legislative Counsel, PNG