R. A. ROSS SPEAKS OUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18208, 15 July 1927, Page 12

R. A. ROSS SPEAKS OUT.

MASTERTON, June loin an interview with a Press representative, R. A. Rose, the famous longdistance runner, states that he may not defend his title in Victoria next month in view of the expense and loss of time it would involve. “ I do not mind, being quite frank about it,” he said. “ A man is expects cd to travel here and there and neglect his only source of livelihood without any compensation whatever, and the ordinary working man, such as myself, cannot afford it. “Amateurism is all right for the nobility of England who founded it, but the majority of New Zealand athletes are working men.” Rose added that the New Zealand Council, while professing poverty, had set £IOOO aside for overseas tours. “ I believe,” he said, “ that a roan, although an amateur, should not be deprived while on a world tour of making what he could mjike were he working at home, and until the governing authorities can see their way to pay some out of pocket allowance to athletes on tour 1 am afraid that overseas tours, as far as I am concerned, will have to stop. “ Eike all small farmers, I have enough to do to make things pay, and I do not feel disposed to neglect by farm in spite of the fact that I am now going better than ever, and believe that I will reach the top of my form next year.”