WRESTLER'S QUANDARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20986, 24 September 1931, Page 7

WRESTLER'S QUANDARY.

ALLEGED DISQUALIFICATION. WALKER WANTED IN SOUTH. , M 'i». . ■■ WEST COAST AWAITS MATCHES. A rather peculiar and unsatisfactory position lias arisen concerning the ! engagement of George Walker in -wrestling matches. Walker, the idol of the -wrestling public of Auckland, has lost but one contest this season. That waa when '*" he was disqualified by the referee in Wellington for allegedly throwing Pinto. ever the ropes. On the Monday following this bout Walker was to have met Kara Pasha in Auckland, and three nights later he was billed to meet Penchefr in Hamilton. ■ _ Upon his return from Wellington Walker was informed by officials of the Auckland Wrestling Association that, consequent upon his disqualification in Wellington, he was unable to be granted a permi.t to take the ring in Auckland. The match with Pasha, therefore, was cancelled. Members of the Hamilton Association communicated with Walker reCarding his bout with Pencheff. Walker's reply was that if he could not wrestle in Auckland he was unable to do so in Hamilton, which was quite feasible. Since Walker's supposed disqualifica- '*■ tion in Wellington he _hasi met and defeated Buresh and Pasha in Auckland, , and on the face of. this there was no withholding of his permit Telegram from Greymouth. Walker is in great demand on the West Coast of the South Island, and he intimated to officials there that he would ~ undertake the trip provided he was guar- ; ; anteed two matches against any opponents - the associations in that district ' cared to select. Negotiations proceeded satisfactorily until yesterday, when Walker received the following telegram from GreymouthAssociation refuses opponents . until Ha'milton suspension lifted. Will wait for you reasonable time." Walker was naturally greatly surprised to receive such an intimation, and he replied to the effect that this was the ? first he had heard of any such suspension. The association imposing the suspension- * must be the Dominion of New Wrestling Association, which body con- . trols the sport throughout New Zealand.,., However, no matter which body is responsible for the hold up of Walker s contests on the West Coast, it is pbvious - that under the rules of the governing ..r body no breach of contract has been committed by Walker. Every professional wrestler who comes to the Dominion in search of matches is_ - handed a licence, on the back of appear these stipulations:Obligations Required.

The following obligations on the part, of the licensee are required by the union . _ —meaning the Dominion of New Zealand Wrestling Union:—(l) That matches.shall be accepted only through a bodyto the union, and shall be conducted in -, compliance with the regulations (pub : lished in the Gazette) governing the conduct of same. (2) That all prizes'in the-v. cases of professional wrestlers shall be awarded on the basis of percentage of net box office takings, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the union. A note added to these conditions makes interesting reading. It is as follows: The licensee is not otherwise required,' by virtue of this licence, to accept any J match agaii;st any opponent, at any place, unless with his own consent. _ The latter, clause is most, elastic, and _ it is little wonder why Walker is at a ; loss to understand how he. can be penal- -** I ised by any association or even the ! governing body for failure to keep an ; engagement. The : Hamilton association ' has apparently reported hirn to the parent J body for not wrestling in that centre, but I Walker's version is that if he was not entitled to enter . the ring in Auckland that week he was n*t'eligible to compete elsewhere. Apart from any question oiß suspension, however, thei'e appears to be no obligation on, the part of any wrestler to accept matches anywhere.