GOVERNMENT GUESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12869, 3 January 1906, Page 4

GOVERNMENT GUESTS.

We appear to have unwittingly done die Xew, Zealand Rugbr Uaion an injustice when we accused that b;dy yesterday of running to the Government for the return fares for the football Siam irhich ye»lerday endangered the "entente cordiale" by drubbing a team of Frenclanicn. The propoal lh:it the team should come homo at th« colony's -:-ij»£d?c emanated front tic Govcrnn:uEi. but it has been eagerly snapped up by the Union. Last Saturday <ihe Premier sent ;he following telegram from Greymouth:— Minsters bar* under confederals n a j?roposal uf it can be for the Xew Zealand football team io come back ito the colocy via Canada and America, the exivex:no to be borne by the colony. It would bo a neat- for th.;an and a courtesy and mark of appreciation by Xew Zealand «f the worthy manner they have represented Xew ZeaJaad football in the Mother Country. \\ c werf not aware of this lelogram when we wiote yesterday, but it does not alter our opinion that the Rugby Union imaght very well hare repatriated the team on its own account. The lour has been ? gr*nt financial success for the Urimi. and when a sjwrt« body is in fnuds. it might just as well run its affairs ilf-clf without coming on tiio State. However, when it) was invite<l to come on the St-Jte. we cannot wonder if it .accepts the invitation., We daresay it would have been all tbej same to the men if they had got their " treatfrom the governing body of their j sport, and in view of the great access to the Union's funds as the result of their\ exertions, that is the source from which j they might hare legitimately expected nos| only a travelling " treat" bat a substantial j recognition cf their labours. I