"IN WORST TASTE"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 239, 8 October 1940, Page 8

"IN WORST TASTE"

REPLY TO CRITICISM.

SIR T. BEECHAM'S ATTACK

WELLINGTON, this dav

Sir Thomas FSooohuiii's outburst against Australia is deserilied by Mr. T. H. Ashton, secretary of the Australian Imperial Force Association, as being in the very worst taste and not worthy of serious attention by Australians living in New Zealand or by New Zea landers themselves. His attack on the war effort did not follow facts. Figures relating to the manpower organisation and munitions production published recently in Xew Zealand newspa|>ers weuld in themselves prove him wrong. What did Sir Thomas lieecham know tTf the sacrifice involved in raising live divisions of men or of the sacrifices these men were now facing? The Auckland outburst was not an isolated case. Sir Thomas Beecham said tilings like that wherever he went. The danger was that his nonsense might be taken for truth by those who did not know the sort of man he was. In any case his criticism in that form was most uncalled for from a visitor who had been a guest conductor in the Commonwealth.

Other Australians said with regard to the interview that Sir Thomas Beecham was" perfectly at liberty to criticise Australian art, literature and drama, but they insisted that he should not deny their existence. — (Press Assn.)