PINTO HONOURED

WRESTLING CHAMPION

NEW MEN FOR 1932

Afc a combined meeting of the New Zea-j land Wrestling Union and the Wellington Association, held last evening, Stanley Pinto was presented with a gold medal in honour of his winning the New Zealand 1931 professional wrestling championship. The president (Mr. H. D. Bennett), in making the presentation, congratulated Pinto on having emerged from the series of championship matches without a de-1 e'Mr. Bennett said that the union had already opened negotiations for a new team of men for next season, and if present negotiations were successful the .Dominion would be favoured next year not only with a majority of new men who have not previously visited this countij, but also wrestlers ranking at the top in ■, world-wide reputation. buch men, ne said, had a very big earning and drawing power, and could only be induced^ to visit New Zealand by the offer of a circuit to include Australia and, perhaps South Africa. He hoped that Pinto, this year s champion, would be amongst those comin" again, but with the exception perhaps of Tom Alley, whom they recognised as a good, all-round, steady wrestler the 1932 American team would consist of new men, drawn from different sources, and each under a definite contract to the union. RELIEF FROM WRESTLERS. The "10 per cent, cut" on the stakes for the final of the New Zealand championship between Pinto and Alley amounted to £35. The wrestlers named have agreed to the disposal of this money to charity, and half of it is being paid ovei each to the Island Bay Home f Com; passion and the Fielden Taylor Taranata Street Mission for the purposes of giving immediate relief.