WRESTLING UNION GETS CRITICISED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7196, 30 June 1933, Page 5

WRESTLING UNION GETS CRITICISED

Edict Regarding To-night's Bout EARLY START NECESSITATED An unexpected and unusual position which has arisen concerning the matching of Pereira and Patterson for tma evening’s bout was the subject oi strong comment., at a meeting of tho Palmerston North Wrestling Association on Wednesday evening. It was reported that advico had been received from Mr. H. D. Bennett, president of the New Zealand Wrestling Union, that owing to the necessity for one of the wrestlers, probably Pereira, to fulfil an engagement in Auckland on the following night, the match at Palmerston North would have to be staged before the amateur preliminaries, in order to enable the contestants to proceed north by the express the same night. Mr. T. F. Belling presided at the meeting, others present being Messrs G-. Watchorn, J. Purves, A. Hopwood, C. V. Ciochetto, B. L. C. Aitchison and Colonel J. H. Whyte. Tho chairman, in placing the facts before the meeting, stated that complete arrangements had already been made for the bout, expenses had been incurred, and preliminary matters put in hand. They should either insist on carrying out the original arrangements or accept tho new conditions imposed. He considered it was high time that strong representations were made to the union concerning the management of the bouts. “It seems that we are being sacrificed for tho sake of Auckland,” observed Mr. Watchorn. “The main principle is to keep faith with the public, and I object to this development. Unless we can have tho match according to the original arrangements we should say it is off. In fact, we have been informed that it will be cancelled in that event.” The suggestion was advanced by Mr. Hopwood that they should advise the union that they wished the match to proceed on the basis of the original arrangements, and with no new condi-. tions whatever. “We are already in disgrace so far as the public are concerned,” said Colonel Whyte, “for our alleged inactivity in arranging professional bouts, and the Patterson-Pereira match is most promising.” Mr. Hopwood: It is time that we took a stand and if the union lets us down we should not take any notice of it in future. “We have gone a certain distance in promoting this match;” stated the chairman. ‘‘ It was definitely promised to us and there were no conditions imposed. Now one is made that is not impossible, but is very unsatisfactory. We have done our best. We did not want any sort of match, and waited for this one. We have a duty to the amateurs and the public at least to put on one or two professional matches a year. We did not have time to get the wrestlers signed up, as we did not have a clear week. They are not signed up and are not legally liable. We cannot control them or tho union. It is most unsatisfactory. We do not know where we arc. But we must keep faith with the public here. ’ ’ Mr. Watchorn commented that the position regarding matches under me circumstances which had arisen was ■intolerable.

The opinion was expressed by the chairman that the Wrestling Union was weak in that it yielded to pressuio from two main associations.

Mr. Hopwood: I think that they should cancel the Auckland match. Colonel Whyte: You have no chance in the world. They will cancel ours first.

Mr. Hopwood: Then we can never be certain of our matches. We should lodge a very strong protest. Mr. Hopwood moved that the Dominion Wrestling Union be advised that the association wished the match to go ahead as previously arranged and, if it did not, would hold the union responsible for all expenses incurred, as well as strongly objecting to the uinon’s action.

Mr. Watchorn seconded the motion. Mr. Aitehison observed that it seemed to be a mere waste of words, because it did not hold the responsible party liable. The chairman expressed similar sentiments, and the motion was lost by four votes to three.

Colonel Whyte moved that the match be held, the professional bout to start at 8 p.m. The chairman reported that already liabilities amounting to about £3O had been incurred in connection with the match, and if the bout did not go on, the association would lose that money without recourse to recovery. It would see that such a situation did not occur

again. Colonel Whyte’s motion was carried, it being decided that at least one or two preliminaries could be staged before the principal bout.