WRESTLING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 40, 17 February 1932, Page 4

WRESTLING

ASSOCIATION MEETS

PROSPECTS FOR SEASON

The annual meeting of the Wellington Wrestling Association was held yesterday afternoon, Mr. H. D. Bennett presiding over a good attendance of members. \ ■ In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, which has been published in "The Post," the chairman said that the question of combining the two associations in Wellington which had been troubling them at this time last j'ear had now been settled, arrangements for the merger being satisfactory to both sides. There had been no evidence offriction 01 any kind since the amalgamation had been agreed upon. The merger had, however, increased the membersliip of the association from 40 to 100, and it would be a question for the association' as to whether they should fill any vacancies in the membership until :they got back to the original number- of 40, or whether some 'other: arrangement should! not be made; The fact that professional" wrestling; in which the wrestlers were intimately concerned with the gate, was promoted prevented any association from having more than a reasonable membership. In Auckland the amalgamation had- increased the membership to 170, but it had been definitely decided not to fill any vacancies until' the number was reduced to 100. In a place like Wellington a membership.of 100 might also not be. considered unreasonable. ■ ■

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS YEAR.

Referring to the arrangements which had been made by the union for the coming season, Mr. Bennett said that these were veiy satisfactory.. This year the wrestlers would come to New Zealand in three different groups—all quite independent of one another. There would be teams from the East and West Coasts of America, and tliere was the third group of men, who had been engaged to visit Australia and who would be on the whole a heavier class than those coming to Ns*Zealand, who would be the usual lightheavyweights. The men engaged to Australia would appear here going to and coming from Australia. The union would also be able to draw such men as Moeske from Australia, and there were those men who might be produced in New Zealand, for they now had to regard George Walker as a New Zealander. In all of the arrangements no wrestler who had previously visited New Zealand was included, with the possible exception•-. of Pinto. It was hoped that the first of the wrestlers would arrive earlier this year than last, arid' they 'would remain as"- Idng: as ' they ■\yere able to get matches. •■' ' •' ■ - -,*VIr,'.G. W. Slade seconded the: motion,which was carried unanimously, 1 there be-ing-no discussion. *~ :>'..:'.'■, :"..'":V -OFFICERS FOJR VISAIV ..As the nominations for' 'officebearers "were exactly the number required; there wasno election and ,the .following '-were" declared elected:— ,-.■..■.•":• ..:... ] Patron, Mr. C. J. Bi'Nbrwood;; president; Mr. H. D. Behnett; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Creeke, Jr-M/Connolly, G W Slade, 11. A. Carr, H. Hv'Sterlirig.and F. Campbell; executive comrn'ttee,.Messrs. E. Lynncberg, J. H. Thompson^ A. Nancarrow, J. D. Willis, J. W. Steele, A. Pope, and M. J. Casey; secretary, Mr- J. C. Steel; treasurer, Mr. Q. W. Slade; hon. solicitor, Mr.'J. D. Willis;?:'lion, medical officers, Drs. ■ Tenhant,: Clay, arid Steele; auditor, *Mr..J. ,L. Arciis.;, ; ■..::,