AUSTRALIA’S CHARACTER

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29055, 18 November 1959, Page 22

AUSTRALIA’S CHARACTER

“More Like U.S. Than Canada” (N.Z Press Association—Lopt/ngnti NEW YORK. November 18. Australia was perhaps more like the United States than any other country, including Canada, the "New York Times” correspondent, C. L. Sulzberger, said today. Sulzberger, writing from Melbourne, said that Australians admired Britain more than the United States "but they prefer individual Americans to individual Englishmen.” "Consequently Australia in some ways and perhaps unwittingly Is becoming Americanised to a degree that irritates many local intellectuals,” he said. "Our methods of organisation, of advertising and our styles of dress are in evidence. Even in more vital matters, the trans-Pacific power of the United States is superseding Britain.” Sulzberger, said that Australian foreign policy was closely geared to America’s, and the military establishment was starting to standardise arms according to the American pattern. "Few Australians object to strategic and. policy shifts in this country's alignment, adjusting to the change in global balances,” Sulzberger said. "But the ' intelligentsia resents some appearances of cultural changes that accompany this,” ne said. “They complain about Miami motels, barbecues and T-shirts They object to cheap American films unloaded on local television.” Sulzberger quoted the Melbourne architect and writer, Robin Boyd, as terming these changes "Austerica . . . incomplete and unsuccessful imitation of a damaging cultural influence.” He noted that Boyd and some intellectuals were trying to overcome this, while others feared Britain continued to mould too much of Australian culture.