CLAIM BY WRESTLER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 12

CLAIM BY WRESTLER.

CONCLUSION OF DEFENCE. ARGUMENT OVER PROFITS. MAGISTRATE RESERVES DECISION The hearing of the -claim for £262 brought by Mohammad Ali Surmi, professional wrestler, of Auckland, against Alexander Bain, wrestling promoter, of Napier, was resumed in the Magistrate's Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday. Sunni contended that the amount in question was the balance due to him from money received by Bain at wrestling contests i" the Broken Hill Stadium, Australia, in February, 1926. The solicitor representing the plaintiff opened his cross-examination of Baiq, who denied that there had been an agreement, as suggested by Sunni, that he should rely for his profits upon betting on the contests. Evidence was produced by the defence to the effect that an arrangement, such as that represented by Sunni to have been arrived at, was unusual between wrestling managers and contestants. One witness who accompanied Bain and Sunni 011 the journey in Australia and who had 30 years' experience in professional wrestling stated that (ho arrangement alleged was scarcely feasible. As far as he was aware, no special agreement differing from those with other wrestlers in the party had been made with regard to Sunni. The magistrate commented that there was a wide divergence of opinion in the evidence brought before him and reserved his decision.