POLICE BAN ON WRESTLING BOUT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 13

POLICE BAN ON WRESTLING BOUT.

OBJECTION TAKEN TO AMERICAN’S CONDUCT. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, June 20. It is obvious that the Police Department is determined to prevent professional wrestling from becoming the “wild and woolly” business that it is in America and other parts of the world. When the Auckland Wrestling Association applied for permission to stage a match between Stan Pinto and Scotty M’Dougal, the application was refused. The reason was that the police were not satisfied with Pinto’s display in the match against Jack Higgins. In the opinion of the police, the American’s conduct was not in the best interests of the sport and the morals of the public. It is understood that Inspector Hollis has also intimated that under no consideration would a repetition of such conduct be tolerated. According to Auckland papers, although it'lasted but three rounds, the professional wrestling contest last Monday between Stan Pinto, one of the new American arrivals, and Jack Higgins, of Australia, was one of the liveliest bouts ever staged in Auckland. Early in the opening round Pinto earned the displeasure of the crowd by smacking with the back of his hand. The sub-inspector of police spoke to the referee, who passed the message on to the contestants. An exchange of simlar tactics occurred before the end of the round when the sub-inspector Tgain spoke to the referee. The crowd, however, resented this and loudly counted out the police official. In the third round, Pinto picked Higgins up and slammed him so hard that he was unable to continue.

It was Pinto’s first New Zealand appearance, and it was obvious that he was a lot in the dark as to what was expected of him. Prior to the start of the match the American was informed by the referee (Mr C. Pollard) that butting, punching and hitting on the back of the neck were barred, and when he had a penalty fall given against him in the second round he appeared genuinely mystified. In his dressing room after the match Pinto said that he had never before lost a fall on a foul. He had not, he claimed, kicked Higgins in the face, but had merely pushed him off. In America kicking and punching were passed over; in fact, the fans demanded it. If the New Zealand people preferred “tea party wrestling,” he could give it to them.