The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 5. THE COMPLIMENT TO OUR FOOTBALLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8020, 5 January 1906, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 5. THE COMPLIMENT TO OUR FOOTBALLERS.

It would have been too much to expect that the Opposition papers should have failed to make political capital out of the Premier's offer, on behalf of the colony, to afford our victorious Rugby team a trip through Canada and the United States on their return to this colony. The " Evening Post" promptly-expressed its disapproval of the project, and designated it as "a wicked waste, of public money," hinting that roading the back-blocks was of far more importance than a national picnic to footballers. There is little sense in such an argument, as not a single penny of the cost of the trip is being taken from the money available for public works. Much as we recognise the necessity for roading expenditure, we do not for a moment consider that the settlers wish the cry for roads to bo used as a bogey in such a case as that under review. The " Post," however, seems disappointed that the Premier should again have taken the tide of popular favour at the flood, and suggested the " graceful compliment" of an American tour "at the expense of the overtaxed workers of the country," and enlarged on the danger of the precedent created.

After commenting on the expense of the trip, and its inefficacy as an advertisement, the writer remarks:— "It may be said that the proposed picnic will bring us into notoriety, but would it bring compensating 'business'? We think not. The team would bring a holiday crowd who would learn that New Zealanderscan play football— only that and nothing more. The truth is, the Premier is playing to the football gallery, which may applaud the proposition ; but (.hough it is naturally just now a very enthusiastic gallery, it does not represent the taxpayers of the country, who should not be compelled to provide the means for a piece of foolish extravagance." **# . * '

In reply, the "Times' 1 points out that the circumstances are never likely to be equalled, and as to tlioadvertisement of the colony as of any commodity—its value cannot illways be reduced to an extct cash basia; the mere fact that New Zealand can play Rugby football, even for " a holiday crowd," would rouse popular interest in this country, and this interest would form the basis for more businesslike methods of State-' advertisement. But the Premier, in his pardonable pride at the achievements of the New Zealand team, must not lose sight of the absolute necessity for a properly organised scheme of througliQiif; older" countries in oriler to compete with the new advertising activities of Canada and th e Com mon wealth. * * # * Tiie question is one on which differences of opinion may exist, but there can be no doubt that the trip was proposed as a genuine compliment to our victorious Rugby representatives, and as such no one can gainsay that it has been well earned, There are many items of expen. dituvo that could with far greater justice be criticised than that of the complimentary tour, and there is little doubt but that the trip will be regarded as the recognition by the country of the meritorious career of our representative footballers, whose success is an honour to the colony.