WRESTLING: ROUND FOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 1

WRESTLING: ROUND FOUR

New Dominion Union Formed

THE SUN LEADS ON POINTS THE SUN’S Special Reporter WELLINGTON, Monday. THERE was born today in Wellington a Dominion body to control wrestling which will be known as the Dominion of New Zealand Wrestling Union. To this body was affiliated the new Auckland Wrestling Association under the auspices of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. It was significant that the wrestling body which has been in control of the sport in Auckland and throughout New Zealand was not represented at the meeting and did not avail itself of the services as delegate of one of its members who was in Wellington. He represented a Southern body.

Proceedings were not open to the Press, but the meeting, as far as could be gathered, was most enthusiastic. Its deliberatious occupied more than two and a-half hours. After the meetiug, Mr. H. D. Bennett, of Wellington, who was in the chair, made a statement to The Sun representative. He said there were present, besides himself in the chair, Messrs. J. Creeke, J. D. Willis, W Shalcrass (Wellington), J. M. Connelly (Christchurch). F. J. Campbell and G. P. Aldridge (Dunedin). F. B. Rickard (Auckland), Pearson, G. Watchorn and Ferguson (Palmerston North). Opening the discussion, the chairman welcomed the delegates, and expressed the hope that the sport of wrestling would, in future, be subject to the control it deserved. 'le stated that, unfortunately, up to present there did not seem to be any control and, although there was an organisation in Auckland calling itself the New Zealand Wrestling Association, it did uot seem to function outside that centre. An invitation had been sent, to that body to be represented at the meeting, but no delegate had been sent and no answers had been received to correspondence. LETTERS UNANSWERED Mr. Campbell (Dunedin) read several letters that his body had sent to Auckland and he, too, had complained of being unable to extract any replies from Auckland. It was re ported to the meeting that a new wrestling association had been estab lished in Auckland under the auspices of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and a letter was read from Major-Gen-eral Sir George Richardson notifying the foundation of a body in Auckland and the appointment as a delegate to the meeting of Mr Rickard. There was considerable discussion on the position in Auckland, and it

was stated that there could pot be room for two controlling centres ln one city. The presence of a delegate from the fteturned Soldiers’ Associa tiou carried with it affiliation to the new central body being formed. The constitution, prepared by Mr. Willis, a Wellington solicitor, was perused, and, subject to ratification by the affiliated bodies, was approved. It was decided to proceed forthwith with the application for recognition of the rules of the new union by the authorities, and it was decided, after discussion, to name the new body the D i minion of New Zealand Wrestling Union. THE SUN’S PART Complimentary remarks were made by Some of the delegates as to the great assistance given to the sport by THE SUN in Auckland. ‘‘A statement was made," said Mr. Bennett, “that no small amount of credit was due to THE SUN for the establishment of the proper control of the game in New Zealand, and recognition was made of that.” An important decision was arrived at regarding wrestlers who would be participating in matches under control of the union. Every wrestler will have to be licensed, and a fee will have to be paid to the union. The following officers were elected: —President, Mr. H. D. Bennett: vicepresidents, Messrs. F. J. Campbell, P. R. Climie (Christchurch), G. Watchorn, Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson (Auckland), and J. Creeke, with others to be appointed as clubs or associations affiliate: secretary, Mr. J. Creeke; treasurer, Mr. Shalcrass; honorary solicitor, Mr. Willis; auditors, Messrs. H. F. Alien and Son; Management Committee, Messrs. J. M. Connelly (Christchurch), Watchorn, Pur vis (Palmerston North), Rickard (Auckland), Willis (Wellington) and Campbell (Dunedin), together with the president, secretary and treasurer