UNION'S POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 95, 18 October 1935, Page 3

UNION'S POSITION

WRESTLING * CHALLENGES

"NO OBSTACLE IN WAY"

The chairman of the management committee of the Dominion of New Zealand Wrestling Union (Mr. J. D. Willis), in a statement today, said that an official explanation seemed neces-' sary to clarify.the position regarding challenges by one wrestler to another and the staging of contests generally. Mr. Willis said that the union endorsed Earl McCready's acceptance of Walker's challenge. Walker had only to agree to a date. The union was putting no obstacles in the way of a match and was leaving it to the wrestlers to decide how the purse should be divided.

In addition, the Wellington Wrestling Association was willing to facilitate matters. Walker wrestled under the auspices of the National Sporting Club and McCready for the union. If Walker met McCready and won, the Wellington Association would agree to the National Sporting Club taking all the net profits of the match, but if McCready won the association was to take the profits. McCready would wrestle Walker on the usual basis, or that of winner-take-all. Surely, if the Sporting Club was confident of Walker's abilities, it would be willing to agree to the staging of a bout on the basis suggested. There could now, therefore, be no hedging.

"Walker must say definitely whether he will meet McCready," said Mr. Willis, "and the National Sporting Club must say whether or not it will lend its support to the staging of the contest. It might be mentioned that Blomfield is also most anxious to meet Walker."

Regarding Duala, Mr. Willis said that Glen Wade desired to meet him. Duala could hardly be said to have yet proved himself here. -On his. doing this, by beating Glen Wade, he could then claim to meet McCready.

Mr..Willis said that the union would do all it could to help matters along. The union was staging a New Zealand championship for 1935 and, in addition to the purse, the winner would receive a trophy. The secretary of the union (Mr. A. G. Washer) had arrangements in hand and these would be finalised shortly. The last championship was won by Stan Pinto in 1932. "It is thus quite evident that McCready and the Wellington Wrestling Association are both only waiting for Walker, Duala, and the National Sporting Club to agree to the staging of the' matches as suggested," concluded Mr. Willis. . ■ .