WRESTLING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 243, 27 July 1935, Page 2

WRESTLING.

NEW ZEALAND UNION CRITICISED

GEORGE WALKER’S ATTITUDE. WELLINGTON, July 26. George Walker, the wrestler, made a statement to-day about his attitude toward the New Zealand Wiestling Union. He said that under the union’s system there were far too many privileged people, as many as 300 free tickets having been issued by one centre to members and their friends. There had grown up a practice of allowing one of the imported American wrestlers to: do the match-making, and this practice involved serious possibilities. Local associations and the union took 20 per cent, of the net gate receipts after all expenses had been deducted, and this was far too much for amateur bodies, which retained all the broadcasting fees as well. He maintained that the whole business was quite unfair, and he was fighting a battle on behalf of those who made their living by wrestling.

STATEMENT CHALLENGED.

CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEE

REPLIES

WELLINGTON, July 29. Asked to comment for the New Zealand Wrestling Union on George Walker’s statement, Mr J. D. Willis (chairman of the management committee) said ho felt move pleased than not that the attack had been made, because it gave an easy opportunity of clearing up: a number of misconceptions which had arisen. He described Walker’s assertions as “silly.” Remarking on Walker’s first point, he said it was a gross exaggeration to say that in any centre as many as 300 free tickets were issued. The number of free tickets was fixed by the committee, and the treasurer kept record of them. The numbers were far smaller than Walker indicated, and actually were being reduced under a policy laid down by the Union. _ The assertion that one of the imported wrestlers was allowed to do the match-making was a definite untruth. All the matches were made by _ the Union’s secretary, or, alternatively, by the associations, which asked for confirmation by the, Union , “It is a funny thing that this is the first time Walker has complained of this,” Mr Willis said. Concerning the unions’ and provincial associations’ receipts out of the gate takings, he said, .Walker’s figures were correct, but the conclusion arrived at was entirely unfounded. All the unions officers, with the exception of a paid secretary, whose duties were continuous and heavy, worked in an honorary capacity. The secretaries of the associations were paid small honoiariums. In each instance all the money collected was used for the pio motion of wrestling. To give an idea of the expenses to be met, Mr Willis said that last year, for the cost of amateur wrestling alone, £250 was paid. In addition, donations were made to charity. It had been considered advisable to retain the broadcasting fees, because broadcasting had popularised the sport veiy largely. TWO DISQUALIFICATIONS WELLINGTON, July 26. The New Zealand Wrestling Union has permanently disqualified .Haid> Kruskamp, the chief reason be “?S failure to keep engagements without proper excuse.; and A 1 1 1 j . generally unsatisfactory tclatmns with the union. Pereira leaves Auckland bj the Monterey to-morrow for America.