PROFESSIONALISM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 9

PROFESSIONALISM.

At a emoko concert at Masterton on Saturday evening, Mr H. O'Lcary, when called upon to propose- the toast of the New Zealand Union, said he had some diffidenco in doing so. If, however, they meant by the New Zealand Raisgby Union the various affiliated Unions, ho was pleased to propose- tho tonst. It would Jiave been a different matter if tho toast referred to the executive in Wellington. He had heard a lot about tho introduction of professionalism into New Zealand during tho last twelve months, and tlm efforts the executive had used to prevent it. "As a matter of fact, there are,"' ho said, "in my opinion no greater professionals in Now Zealand than ,tho members of tho executive, who vote themselves bonuses, which may bo small, but, nevertheless, are bonuses, and treat themselves to trips up and down the country, and to "Australia, at the Union's expense, whilst poor country Unions cannot got tho as3istanco they deserve, but nre even penalised to tlw extent of han<l i n<; over the whole of. the gate receipts, dorived from matches nsraijist the Englishman to tho y.z.n.v."