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.