RIVAL WRESTLING BODIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1063, 29 August 1930, Page 10

RIVAL WRESTLING BODIES

N.Z.W.A. WANTS SETTLEMENT

DEPUTATION TO SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

WITH tlie object of endeavouring to effect a settlement of the wrestling dispute between the two promoting bodies in Auckland, a deputation from the New Zealand Wrestling Association last evening waited on the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, under the auspices of which the Auckland Ex-Servicemen’s Wrestling Union works.

Alter the deputation had been heard, a 'member of the executive moved that 1 the association dissociate itselt from wrestling, but an amendment that two members ot the union meet Ihe Wrestling Association with a view to effecting an amicable settlement, was carried. The deputation consisted ot Messrs S. Austin Carr, W. H. Ready, and A. Duthie. Mr. Carr, in introducing the deputation, said he hoped that an amicable arrangement between the Wrestling Union and the Wrestling Association, could he effected. He was of the opinion that the Returned Soldiers’ Association was doing itself harm by being involved in a wrestling dispute. “We have had certain differences in our association, but when matters came into dispute my council decided that it would do nothing to jeopardise the good work being done by the Returned Soldiers’ Association,” said Mr. Ready, who acted as spokesman for the deputation. "We have been unfairly criticised in the Press,” he continued, “but we decided not to answer until we had met your executive.” A scathing attack on one of the most prominent wrestlers was then made by Mr. Ready, who criticised both the wrestler concerned and also the association. A member drew attention to the fact that a Press representative was present. Sir George Richardson, who pro sided: I think that is all right. i have always found the Press very fair. Mr. Ready: I have no objection to the Press being present. For ten years we have been carrying on and many of our members are returned soldiers. We have not been carrying on for gain, but purely for the promotion of the sport, and we have been supporting charities. I say respectfully that you would not have formed another body to promote wrestling if you had known the true facts of the case. You are a body which has to appeal to every section ot the community, and it will not help you when it is known that you have become a proprietary body. You have to appeal to tho public and it will go against you on a day like Poppy Day. “GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE” Mr. Ready contended that the subcommittee of the R.S.A. promoting wrestling had been told that if a settlement could be arranged it would be given representation on the New Zealand Wrestling Association's committee. and 20 per cent, of the association’s profits for the benefit of unemployed returned men. The Government had assured the New Zealand Association, he said, that it would not allow wrestling to be controlled in New Zealand by a body on which that association was not represented. “We will fight to see that the bodies throughout New Zealand give a share of their takings for the benefit of returned soldiers,” he concluded. Mr. Ready was questioned by a rum- ! her of members. Mr. S. C. Reid: What representation would we get on your body?—You would get reasonable representation. Mr. E. W. Inder: What, share of the profits would we he given?—Twenty per cent, of 20 per cent. Expenses would be deducted from the total receipts, and after 80 per cent, had been divided between the wrestlers you would get 20 per cent, of the remaining 20 per cent. Mr. Inder: If the Auckland bodies come to some agreement you would see that other centres would give the same? —Yes. “IMPOSSIBLE” Mr. T. S. Miller, secretary of the ExServicemen's Wrestling Union, said he had received a letter from the South L stating that it was impossible to give I a percentage of the receipts to iinern^ • ployed returned soldiers at the pres- ■ eut time. Mr. Miller: -You have stated thal ■ many of your members are returned . men. How many are financial with the Returned Soldiers’ Association? Mr. Ready: We have not the means ■ at our disposal or the right to in--5 quire. Members of our association i have been canvassed by one of your i committee. ■ Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Dawson: ; Who did that canvassing? * • Mr. Miller named the members of L the committee. “Now, which one did the canvassing?” he asked. ) Mr. Ready: I do not knefivv, hut a i member of your association did the r canvassing. r Mr. Miller: How much of your funds 1 have you donated to charity?, i Mr. Ready: T have not inquired. Mr. Miller: Nothing? 1 Mr. Ready: I can’t answer that. I . wilt let you know by letter, t Mr. Miller: What was that sta-te , ment you made about the Southern Union?

■ Mr. Ready: The union said that it would not have taken action if it had known the true position. Mr. Miller: What chairman of a sports body' said he would withdraw his support from the soldiers if the Auckland union continued to promote matches? Mr. Ready: I cannot tell you. The Press representative was asked to omit the name, but Mr. Ready did not disclose it. Mr. Ready: My association has been hit below the belt. Sir George Richardson: We have not hit you below the belt. We have endeavoured to he cordial and meet you. Mr. Miller: I asked you, that if we took all your members, would you agree to abide by our rules. Mr. Ready-: I do not admit that question. I do not know your rules and I am not the mouth-piece ot our members. Mr. Miller: You are tlieir mouthpiece now. Sir George Richardson : Could not the two bodies get together? I would like to bring about a cordial agreement. Mr. Inder: I will move that two members outside the sub-committee he appointed to adjudicate on the question. Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson: Why this no-confidence motion in the subcommittee? It would mean asking two members who knew nothing about wrestling, or the question o£ the two bodies, to adjudicate.

Mr. Inder: I move that the association dissociate itself from wrestling - . The deputation withdrew at this stage after expressing thanks for Us reception. “INTERNAL WRANGLINGS” “At the present time we have more applications for membership on the wrestling union that we can accommodate,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson. “The New Zealand "Wrestling Association has had internal wranglings of which we know little, but we are prepared to meet it. The union realises that this is an opportunity of getting funds for unemployed returned men.” “We can employ a number of returned men with the funds we have already obtained,” said Mr. Miller, “and we have employed IS men at each of the two matches we have staged so far. As against this fifth that the New Zealand Association offers us, and which would amount to a small sum, we made £SG on our first show and £4 on our second, which was not so successful. However, we expect another large sum from our next bout on Monday evening. We have offered to admit four members of the New Zealand Wrestling Association Committee to our committee and 25 members to our union. We have done more to meet it than it has done to meet us ” Sir George Richardson; The motion to dissociate ourselves from wrestling has two effects. Dissociation means that there will he no question of settlement and, again, it shows lack of confidence in the sub-committee, which has not wrangled. Mr. Miller: I -move as an amendment that Lieut.-Colonel Dawson and myself meet the association with a view to settlement. The amendment was carried by six votes to three. Mr. Miller said that every returned man who was a member of the wrestling union had to be a financial member of the Returned Soldiers’ Association and next year members of the union who were not returned men would have to become honorary members of the association.