POLICE UPHELD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 198, 24 August 1935, Page 10

POLICE UPHELD

ISSUE OF WRESTLING PERMITS DECISION OF FULL COURT INSPECTOR HAS DISCRETION. CHIEF JUSTICE DISSENTS. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. The Full Court to-day, by a majority of three to one, held that the Inspector of Police has an absolute discretion, within specified. limits, of granting permits for wrestling matches, and that the Police Offences (Wrestling Contests) Regulations, 1931, ara valid. The majority of the Court comprised Their Honours Justices Blair, Smith and Kennedy. The Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, gave a dissenting judgment, holding that Regulation 8 is ultra vires, and that Section 72 (2) does not confer upon the Inspector of Police discretion to refuse a licence. On June 27 the National Sporting Club, incorporated, brought a claim against tne Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. G. Wchlmann, and Inspector of Police. Mr. G. B. Edwards, applying for an order declaring^— (a) That Regulation 8 of the Police Offences (Wrestling Contests) Regulations, 1931, is invalid, as being beyond the powers conferred on the Governor-General-in-Council. (b) That the club was entitled to a permit under Section 72 of the Police Offences Act, 1927, to hold a wrestling contest between Earl McCready, of Canada, and George Walker, at the Wellington Show Association’s stadium on the night of June 3 last, and that the permit was wrongly withheld. (c) That the club is entitled to hold a permit at any future time and place upon a like application in like circuinstances. The effect of the decision of the Full Court will be to restrict wrestlers to operate under the wing of the Now Zealand Wrestling Association. George Walker, and those who are prepared to wrestle under the jurisdiction of the body which instigated this legislation, will now either have to transfer to the association or wrestle under the other body if and when the Commissioner of Police feels disposed to grant it a permit.