What Wrestling Owes to Radio.

Wrestling is one sport, more than any other that owes a great deal of its popularity to the radio. Until commentators gave the general public an idea of what modern wrestling was, few gave the mat sport a second thought. To-day there cannot be many New Zealanders who do not know the meaning of the “Boston crab,” the “Indian death grip,” or “body scissors.” But, more important than the benefit the radio has been to wrestling measured in terms of attendance and # s. d., is the contribution it has made, through wrestling, to the improvement in the physical and mental development of the young manhood of New Zealand. Wrestling is one of the best body-building exercises known, and the wonderful physique of visiting matmen must have impressed spectators. What has been the result? New Zealand youths have taken to the sport like ducks to water, almost every town, large or small, has its wrestling gymnasia where sane exercise is taken.

Although wrestling as a means of livelihood is practised in New Zealand almost entirely by visiting grapplers, there are at the present time at least two New Zealanders making names for themselves—Blomfield and El'iott. They learned the groundwork of their profession in New Zealand and went overseas to discover the finer points, but one young athlete who may outdo their deeds is H. Bartlett, of Wellington. Now but 21 years of age, he has a physical development not bettered by any of the visitors and his knowledge of wrestling, gained by dint of self-sacrifice and perseverance under a most capable tutor has impressed competent authorities who predict the highest honours for him.