WRESTLING DISPUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 10

WRESTLING DISPUTE

UNION SECRETARY’S COMMENTS POSITION OF R.S.A. “The Returned Soldiers’ Association Has never at any time given an assurance that it would dissociate itself from wrestling if there were no settlement of the present controversy.” This statement was made this morning by Mr. T. S. Miller, secretary of the Auckland Ex-Servicemen’s "Wrestling Union, which is under the auspices of the Returned Foldiers’ Association, in commenting on the remarks of Mr. W. H. Ready at the special general meeting of the rival Auckland body, the New Zealand Wrestling Association. Air. Ready stated at the meeting on Tuesday evening that the Returned Soldiers’ Association liad given an assurance that if no compromise were effected it would dissociate itself from wrestling. Mr. Miller took strong exception to this statement. “Further, we would have liked to express our position at the general meeting of the New Zealand Wrestling Association. We have not acted in any underhand manner, and we do not wish to fight or disagree with anyone. I asked permission to attend the meeting, together with one or more members of the executive of the Ex-Servicemen’s W restling Union, but the request was declined, so there was no opportunity of the meeting considering the true position. “Mr. Ready knows full well that we have honestly endeavoured to settle any differences in the control of wrestling in Auckland,’’ said Mr. Miller, “and we are still open to receive, and a« a matter of fact .are awaiting, an invitation to meet the executive of the New Zealand Wrestling Association, in terms of a resolution passed not only by the Returned Soldiers’ Association, but also by the executive of the ExServicemen’s Wrestling Union. “The Sun’s report of the New Zealand Wrestling Association’s meeting states that Mr. Ready made similar statements to those he uttered at the meeting of the Returned Soldiers’ Association executive, and made a further attack on Tom Aliev,” said Mr. Miller. ”At that meeting Air. Readv said Air. Tom Alley was behind the Ex-Servicemen’s Wrestling Union, but r - Alley has had nothing whatsoever to do with the management and control of the 1 nion. Air. Alley is not even represented on any sub-commit-tee of the union.” MR. READY’S REPLY “I did not at that meeting stale that the Returned Soldiers’ Association had agreed to dissociate itself with wrestling,” said Air. Ready, when Mr. Miller’s comments were submitted to him later. I gave it as my opinion. I have had statements from members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association that if no compromise is effected they believe the association will dissociate itself with wrestling. “We are prepared to meet the representatives of the union at any time to arrange a settlement. Thev will be notified within a few .lays of a time when the whole of our executive tan be present. “We have not suggested that Mr. tom Alley has any administrative capacity in regard to the new union •K know that he has furnished it with financial support. So far as Mr Alley is concerned he was present at a meeting of my executive, and stated then that he was entirely satisfied with tho wry he had been treated by -he association, and said that when "he went to TV eilington he would tell the association there that tho New Zealand Association would work in an amicable manner with Wellington and would reciprocate regarding wrestlers At the same time that he. was triring that assurance,” concluded Mr. Readv 'he was in active negotiations with tho Returned Soldiers’ Association in Auckland regarding the formation of a body opposed to our interests.”