WRESTLER COMPLAINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22172, 27 July 1935, Page 19

WRESTLER COMPLAINS

CONDITION'S IN DOMINION REPLY MADE BY UNION [bt TELEGRAPH —Pit ESS association] WELLINGTON, Friday George Walker, the wrestler, made a statement to-day regarding his attitude toward the New Zealand Wrestling Union. He said that under the union system there were far too many privileged people, as many as 300 free tickets having been issued in one centre to members and friends. There had grown up the „ practice of allowing one of the imported American wrestlers to do tho match-making, and this practioe involved serious possibilities. Local associations and the union took 20 per cent of the net gates after all expenses had been deducted. This fras far too much for amateur bodies, which retained all broadcasting fees as well. He maintained that the whole business was quite unfair, and he was fighting a battle on behalf of those who made their living by wrestling. Asked to comment for the New Zealand Wrestling Union on Walker's statements, Mr. J. D. Willis, chairman of the management committee, described Walker's assertions as "silly." It was gross exaggeration to say that in any centre as manv as 300 free tickets were issued. The number of-free tickets was fixed by the committee and the treasurer kept records of them. The numbers were far smaller than Walker indicated, and actually were being reduced, under a policy laid down by the union. 1 The assertion that one of the imported wrestlers was allowed to do the match-making was incorrect. All matches were made by the union's secretary, or, alternatively, by the associations which asked for confirmation by the union. Concerning the receipts of the union and provincial associations out of gate takings, Mr. Willis said Walker's figures were correct,' but the conclusion arrived at was entirely unfounded. All the union's officers, the exception of the paid secretary, whose dutiel were continuous and heavy, worked in an honorary capacity. The secretaries of the associations were paid small honoraria. AH the money collected was used for the promotion of wrestling. To give an idea of the expenses to bo met, Mr. Willis said that last year for the cost of amateur wrestling alone £250 was paid. In addition, donations were made to charity. It had been considered advisable to retain tho broadcasting fees, hecauso broadcasting had popularised tho sport very largely.