“THIS WRESTLING”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 4

“THIS WRESTLING”

LEARNED COUNSEL AND JUDGES CONFER

FULL COURT INTERLUDE Perhaps their Honors did not know what “ this wrestling ” was, said the Solicitor-general, Mr H. H- Cornish, K.C., to a Bench of four judges in the Wellington Supreme Court on Thursday, and for son.e time afu rward questions of dry law, which had been occupying central attention in the case, were forgotten. The court sat up and. discussed “ this wrestling ” and other sports from some new angles. The case concerned an injunction sought by the National Sporting Club (Inc.), Wellington, a wrestling promoting body, from the Commissioner and Inspector of Police. , “ Perhaps your Honors don t know what this wrestling is,” suggested Mr Cornish, who was about to develop a new point in the course of a highly legal dissertation on Police Department permits for staging contests. “If you haven’t seen it . • • ' Mr Justice Smith; Well, I candidly sav I haven’t seen it. Mr Justice Blair: I can’t say I have seen it either. ■ SERIOUS WRESTLING. Mr Cornish then read to the judges, who included the Chief Justice _ (Sir Michael Myers), a press report of last Monday's match in Wellington between Pereira and M'Cready. It was headed “ Serious Wrestling. An Excellent Displav,” and it stated that Pereira was slammed heavily to the mat on two occasions, which concluded the bout. Of course. Mr Cornish added, if the judges were not conversant with the sport it put him at a disadvantage in what he had to say. . “Prize, fights are admittedly unlawful,” he continued. “ That is a contest where for the sake of gain people expose themselves to harm being done to th Mr Justice Smith: What about Rugby football? . _ “That Is not for gam. Whether League football might be in this class I don’t know,” Mr Cornish replied. “No,” said Mr F. C. Spratt, one of the other counsel. , ■ “ It is quite easy for a wrestling match to develop into a prize fightsaid Mr Cornish. “I must assume that the court knows something about contemporary sport. . • •’ The Chief Justice: You have a referee there, !1 > , “ But the damage might be done before the referee is aware of it,’ Mr Cornish replied. He pointed out that before 1924, when the existing legislation to wrestling was brought down, there was no such thing as wrestling as a promoted sport in New Zealand. There were friendly matches,” he said. The Cumberland style was used, I suppose, and there was wrestling at Caledonian sports; but there was not much more than that. “GAME OF BILLIARDS.” An ordinary friendly match as, it was known then was like a game of billiards. When Contestants enter- the ring and begin rabbit-punching one another it is not lawful. In this case that I have read in the paper a wrestler was concussed twice in quick succession .... It depends on the men’s tempers.”’ .. , The Chief Justice, smiling, mentioned the Encyclopaedia Britannica. _ , “ No, sir; that learned publication is strangely silent on this subject, * Mr Cornish promptly replied. Speaking of vigorous inen, who undertake exercise for money, Mr Cornish remarked that he could not say whether any given contest would remain lawful as it progressed, , The Chief Justice: I understand the sport has become more scientific now. Mr Cornish replied that counsel accompanying him in the case, Mr J. D. Willis, who is chairman of the Management Committee of the Zealand Wrestling Union, was, he believed, no mean exponent in the art. “He may show your Honor something of the technique,” he added, amid more laughter. He agreed with the Chief Justice in his remark. “1 believe it depends on greater knowledge of nerve-centres _ and where they are situated,” he said. The Chief Justice: I understand wrestling contests are attended by a large number of spectators, including the best; or some of the best, of the citizens.' “Yes,” said Mr Cornish. “Some men . who go to wrestling matches are among the highest in the 'land. I don’t know whether the court wants to hear reminiscences of my own, but I have seen an excellent wrestling match to which no exception could be taken. In another part of the hearing Mr Spratt, mentioning showmanship in wrestling, defined the word to the court. “It is an art,” he said, “allied to the art of publicity or advertising in a contest, or the art of giving the public what they want.” ATTACKING THE REFEREE.

At a later stage, when the question of disturbances at contests was under discusjson, Mr Justice Smith asked if it was a fact that referees had been thrown out of the ring in wrestling contests.

“Yes, in both wrestling and boxing,” said Mr Spratt. Mr Justice Blair: ,1 remember one time when there was rather high feeling at prohibition meetings. The Chief Justice: I suppose even in a football match the referee has been attacked. Have you heard of a case? Mr Justice Smith: There are in all sports. But they haven’t been thrown right off the ground. “ During last year in one of the more remote districts a whole team took to the referee and ran him off the ground,” said Mr Spratt. “ The team was disqualified.” “ Six policemen were needed to protect one referee in a Greyraouth wrestling match,” said Mr Cornish. “ I can’t describe this wrestling busi-. ness,” Mr Cornish continued. “I must asume that the court is cognisant of the fact that it is conducted between strong, vigorous men. . . .” Some minutes later the dust of highly legal quotation settled once again on the tables.