A BAD PRECEDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8021, 6 January 1906, Page 2

A BAD PRECEDENT.

TO THE EDITOR. J Il! ' As a Jfew Zealander, it hn s iift'o rded mc genuine pleasure (o watch the triumphal progress of our representative football team in Great Britain That tliey have worthily upheld the' host sporting traditions of the Colony, and proved beyond ( |ueslion that pliys irallyJWw iloalanders are a vigorous and volnist rare, I am proud to ft ('knowledge. I cannot, however, honestly subscribe to the scheme o f afford ing the footballers a trip through America at the Government's expense. As an individual taxpayer. I don't for one moment grudge the infinitesimal P roporlion of the cost (hat may be charged to my account. My objection is based purely on principle/and T protest against the creation of a pre. cedent of so startling a nature Granted that the people of the Colony lire pleased with the doings of their represent atives, and wish to show their appreciation of the players' efforts why should nit the New Scalane Rugby Union, which represents tin Wball community, an I must havi profited considerably bv the tour, bea r the expenses of the trip! l It has often been charged against Xcw Zealanders jth-.it wv are rapidly developing into a Sj)irt-w.)rs!iippin; pjople.. The Pro. mier has on nure than one occasion of late deplored this tendency, yet, ap. pirently, he is 011 c of the greatest sinners himself. Trusting some abler pen than mine will take this matter up, if only to show we still have ideals in lifo greater than more sport,—] am, ete., Old Amateur.