ARE WE CIVILISED.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 9

ARE WE CIVILISED.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l do not wish to prolong the controversy on the above subject more than Is necessary. However, like previous correspondents, I may say that any sane and right-thinking citizen of Hamilton would be loath to see pres-ent-day wrestling staged here. ‘Hardy Sport” (?) Is longing to see skin and hair flying. Would his own skin and hair do any mid-air stunts also? I think not, because creatures of his calibre Who delight to sit and gaze on a pair of “ mat-maulers ” groaning and grunting like a pair of wild beasts, and applaud it as being an exhibition of wrestling,'are never to the fore to take any “ rough stuff ” If it is being ladled out. One phrase of “ Hard Sport’s ” letter Is in keeping with my own ideas of wrestling as staged to-day and that is, the contestants put “trimmings ” to the bout for the benefit of the onlookers, who otherwise would be bored to death. I ask you, 'sir, is there any other branch of sport that needs “ trimmings ’’ added to it to keep the onlooker from being bored to death? I would like to ask “ Hardy Sport " (and others who uphold modern wrestling) has he read reports of the way the public havo been exploited in other countries by such well-known wrestlers as “ Strangler ” Lewis, G. Kotsonaros, D. Ivuveiis, J. Stretcher, and other modern wrestlers? If he did he would be one of the first to try and prevent the same being staged in Hamilton. In conclusion I would remind “Hardy Sport” that we, who are up against Hamilton being infested with so-called modern wrestlers, are well able to keep our end up In other ways apart from wrestling.—l am, etc., HONEST SPORT.