WRESTLING REPORTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25273, 27 August 1947, Page 5

WRESTLING REPORTS

Sir, —Several correspondents who have criticised your wrestling reports evidently feel that justice is not being done to a very fine sport. Wrestling might once have been a fine sport; but in my opinion it now deserves the treatment it gets. The contests may or may not be completely genuine; but is it not a fact that all the wrestlers are brought to New Zealand by one man—like a vaudeville company? Has there ever been any mention of a purse for these bouts, or are they paid a wage? Do these men not engage in bouts sometimes two and three nights in succession — a fine performance if they put as much into their work as some believe. Finally, 1 would draw correspondents’ attention to the point mentioned by your reporter, viz., that in some hundred bouts only one has been won by two falls—an extraordinary fact.—Yours, etc., UNDECEIVED. August 22, .1947.

The president of the Christchurch Wrestling Association. Mr A. P. Craig, commented on the above letter when it was referred to him yesterday as follows: “Wrestlers are brought out to New Zealand by the Dominion Wrestling Association, which pays their return fare from America. Wrestlers are not paid a wage. They receive a percentage of the ‘gate’ money and their earnings depend entirely on their drawing capacity. With bouts spread over New Zealand, it is not possible for wrestlers to engage in more than two and occasionally three bouts a week. The statement that in some hundred bouts only one had been won by two falls is not correct.” Our wrestling reporter states that the point mentioned by “Undeceived.” that of about 100 bouts, only one had been won by two falls, appeared in a report some weeks ago. and was incorrect Results of matches given in Press Association messages up till that time showed that not a single bout had been won by that margin. The same message indicated that wrestlers have often taken part in bouts on successive nights, sometimes on three nights oui I of four, the intervening night being [ a Sunday.—Ed.. “The Press.’’ •_ Wrestling Fan may, if ne wishes, : briefly reply; otherwise, this correspondence is closed,—Ed., “The i Press.”! ;