Lyndon Hood: Political Interference in Rugby!

Parliament, meeting today for the first time after New Zealand's successful world cup bid, decried it as another example of Labour party political interference.

Flexing its muscles against the minority Government, the House passed a motion condemning the Prime Minister's open support of the bid and the proposed large-scale state funding of the event.

"This is just another case of Helen Clark trying to pick winners," said Rodney Hide, speaking to the motion.

"The Rugby Union is a private organisation. Madam Speaker. This is nothing but corporate welfare!"

National's Dr Wayne Mapp declared that the institutions of government should not become involved in social matters. "This is political correctness gone mad," he said.

"This Labour-New Zealand First government is once again pandering to the desires of single cultural group - people who 'identify' as liking rugby. It would be funny, if they hadn't already spent one point six million dollars doing it. And if they weren't proposing to spend twenty million dollars more."

"How many hip operations is that?" Dr Mapp asked, "How many hip operations have been sacrificed so Helen Clark can have another photo opportunity with her rugby-playing chums?"

When approached for comment, NZ First leader Winston Peters loudly demanded to only be asked questions relating to his current mission to the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Prime Minister Helen Clark had earlier defended her actions, and said that something as important as rugby "should not be turned into a political football".

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