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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 9 (December 1, 1939)

Panorama of the Playground — In Defence of the Wrestler

page 63

Panorama of the Playground
In Defence of the Wrestler

During recent years I have had the privilege of meeting many visiting wrestlers— meeting them outside the ring—and have learned to know them as more than splendid physical specimens of masculinity. Most of them have had college educations and have graduated from college wrestling to professional sport, and without exception they have expressed astonishment when told that amateur wrestling is not part of the regular sporting activities of New Zealand schools.

In many American colleges, notably the A. & M. at Oklahoma, wrestling is one of the major sports. Incidentally, both Earl McCready and Rollend Kirchmeyer, two of last season's stars, came from that college.

New Zealanders are highly spoken of by the visiting wrestlers, men like Paul Boesch, Ed. Don George and Dick Raines never failing to keep in touch with their New Zealand friends and speaking of the tourist possibilities of this Dominion. Boesch, who made his second visit last season, has addressed more than 100 public gatherings where he has lauded New Zealand and displayed his collection of Maori souvenirs and photographs. Don George had an article syndicated through the American Press in which he told the “folks back home” that New Zealand is the “Fisherman's Paradise.”

Many critics begrudge the wrestlers the money they make in New Zealand— without looking at the matter in an impartial manner. Most fans would be surprised to learn how little cash is taken away by the grapplers. From each match there is deducted the rental, staffing and advertising charges, after which a percentage is deducted for the promoting association, followed by a further deduction for the Dominion of New Zealand Wrestling Union, this money being used to encourage amateur wrestling. With these deductions made, the wrestlers have a certain amount set aside for their travelling expenses and the rest is theirs!

But a wrestler has a high standard of living—particularly if married, and most of the visiting matmen bring their wives with them. Living headquarters are at Wellington, where the average rental for a suitable furnished flat is £4/4/- per week—wrestlers being charged more because they “make their money easily.” But few of the wrestlers have more than two nights at home each week and for the other nights accommodation must be paid at hotels or on steamers or trains. Travelling expenses rate large in a wrestler's book of expenses and before a wrestler has been in New Zealand a month he is already known to the guards of the New Zealand Railways and the stewards of the Union [gap — reason: illegible]eam Ship Company.

So to those who begrudge the wrestlers the money they make in New Zealand I give them the thought that they make more money for others. They are splendid patrons of the rail, steamer and air services, regular patrons of hotels—but not the bars— and pay top prices for furnished flats. In addition they help municipal revenue in many towns by regular booking of the Town Halls and help the house staffs by enabling them to receive regular casual employment as ticket sellers and ushers. Their good work does not end there, for they help the newspapers by regular advertising of their matches— at least £200 a week is spent in this manner—and the sale of radio sets that was created when wrestling matches were first broadcast resulted in a record year. To cap it all, the professional wrestler makes it possible for amateur wrestling to be encouraged by devoting a percentage of each match to the Union fund.

Realising that wrestlers are three weeks on the water when coming to New Zealand and another three weeks when returning, it will be seen that what little they take away is more than balanced by the loss of matches during the travelling period.

A Notable Achievement.

Courage in adversity is a quality found in champions and it is pleasing to record the first major golf success attained by Jack Shelly, Wellington amateur golfer. As a lad, Jack lost one eye, but this did not prevent him from graduating to the top flight of amateur golfers, although until this year he had not won a major event. Tragedy caught up with him a few months ago when his car crashed during a night drive from Wanganui to Wellington, one of the passengers losing his life and Jack receiving severe head injuries necessitating more than forty stitches. It was touch and go whether Jack would pull through, but he did so with a vengeance.

In the Hutt Golf Tournament, played during the Labour Day week-end Jack qualified by the narrowest of margins after getting in an apparently impossible position. His first round was dismal, due to rain fogging his glasses, but he predicted he would get near the course record in the second round and so qualify. He proved his confidence by doing just that and then went on to beat opponent after opponent and take the title.

The expressions of congratulations on Jack Shelly's win were more than genuine as they were a tribute to a man who had fought his way from the brink of death to a high position in the golfing world in a few short months.

A Great Oarsman.

Forty-seven years ago Tom Sullivan, New Zealand oarsman, made a valiant effort to wrest the world sculling title from Jack Stanbury on the Parramatta River, Australia. Later he won the English sculling championship and then went to Germany as rowing coach to a leading German rowing club. During the war of 1914–1918, Sullivan was interned, but he resumed his old job when hostilities ceased. Once again Sullivan has page break been caught by the tide of war, but reports indicate that he has not suffered internment on this occasion. Sullivan must now be over the 70-year mark but he remains as the outstanding rowing coach in Germany. Incidentally, with Billy Webb, Dick Arnst, Darcy Hadfield and Paddy Hannan, New Zealand has supplied some of the world's greatest scullers.

A Fine Track Performance.

The outbreak of war has interfered with the plans of A. H. Gilmore, young Auckland cash athlete, who amazed Australians (and New Zealanders) by covering one mile in 4 min. 8 sec. off 40 yards last Easter. Gilmore was to have attempted the professional record of 4 min. 12 3/4 sec., made by W. G. George in 1886, but he has exchanged his track uniform for a uniform of khaki and the plans of the Australian club that proposed staging the record attempt have been postponed until the war clouds disperse. It is unfortunate that Gilmore could not secure competition in New Zealand, but his decision to compete for cash prizes put him outside the amateur code and cash athletics is not strong in the Dominion. He has the ability to break a record that has stood for 53 years.

Neil Edwards Returns.

One by one, New Zealand sportsmen have been returning from the Mother Country and each brings a message of optimism from the people of the Old Land. A few weeks ago, Neil Edwards, New Zealand tennis champion, returned from his visit to Wimbledon and other tennis tournaments. He had three months and two weeks in England, and played tennis or travelled to tennis tournaments for three months and one week! The final week was spent in packing in readiness for the journey home.

Edwards, who is employed in the New Zealand Railways, spoke enthusiastically of the tennis in England, but is of the opinion that New Zealand has the players—that the same players do not get sufficient “big match” play. A. Dewar Brown, former champion, returned later and gave praise to Edwards for his play in England and expressed the view that Edwards had made a wonderful impression in English tennis circles, not only for his high standard of play, but also for his off-the-court demeanour.

(J. S. Steven, photo.) A half for refreshments at Hindon Station on the Otago Central Line, South Island.

(J. S. Steven, photo.)
A half for refreshments at Hindon Station on the Otago Central Line, South Island.

Others to return included the New Zealand Rugby League tourists, who played two matches in England for two wins. Part of their time in England was spent in filling sand-bags as protective measures in case of air raids.

Yet another on the way at time of writing was Geoff Vivian, New Zealand cricketer, who went to England at Sir Julien Cahn's invitation after making a name for himself in English cricket. Vivian was reported missing after the sinking of the “Yorkshire,” but he was fortunate enough not to sail on that steamer and arrived in New York without incident.

Did you ever wake on “the morning after” a smoke concert or other jam-boree, with a tongue like a doormat and a taste in your mouth you'd gladly give away? Too many cocktails? Perhaps. But how about too many cigarettes or pipes? Over-smoking may prove in its after-effects as bad as “over-cocktailing.” Depends on the baccy. Some of these brands, chock-ful of nicotine (plenty of them!) may give you beans next morning!—cocktails or no cocktails if you over-smoke. Now here's the straight tip—next time you're going to have a night out with the boys you'll be wise to fill your pouch beforehand with a really safe tobacco. It'll make all the difference. And the safest, purest, mellowest, most fragrant and least harmful of all tobaccos are the “toasted”—Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Navy Cut No. 3 (Bull-dog), Cavendish, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold. Yes, it's the toasting that does it!—eliminates the nicotine, in parts that exquisite flavour, accounts for that delightful aroma, and makes toasted safe to smoke to any extent.*