“MAN OF THE YEAR”

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 18

“MAN OF THE YEAR”

LONDON PAPER PICKS MR MENZIES (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. The London morning paper, the “Daily Sketch.” today named the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) as the “man of the year.” The newspaper, for the last few days, has been awarding “oscars” to personalities in various walks of life. In giving Mr Menzies the award, it said: “Robert Gordon Menzies is Australia’s Prime Minister. He is also the man of the year for one simple and sufficient reason: he would rank as high as a real man in any year. “He is a burly, vigorous man. Even the way his white hair floats in the wind is energetic. He is 62 years of age and heading fast to be the leading statesman in the Commonwealth. “Last year he nearly exploded when he had to answer persistent rumours that he meant to resign from the Australian Government and come to London as a High Commissioner. No wonder he almost exploded. If Mr Menzies ever comes permanently to London, it will not be as a spokesman of his own Dominion. It will be as the spokesman of the whole Commonwealth. “There are qualities of supreme leadership in this man. He has everything it takes. His qualities were shown during the Suez crisis. From start to finish he was there at Britain’s side,” the paper said.