TRAVELLER'S VIEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 15 February 1929, Page 4

TRAVELLER'S VIEWS

AUSTRALIANS CRIIICIISED.

“SYDNEY'S MANNERS THE

WORST.”

4 Mr Oswald Lewis, British Conservative) candidate for Colchester, in succession to the retiring Secretary for War (Sir Laming WorthingtonKvans), pungently criticises Australians in a, travel, book, entitled, “Because I’vo Never Been There Before.” 1

Mr Lewis spent six weeks in Aus(tifn/liai during the winter of 1927, visiting every Stale.

‘"The average Australian is not merely d' scour loon s, but he is rude, states Mr Lewis. “The further east T travelled from Perth the worse became the manners and the more execrable became the accent. Perhaps it is a legacy from the past, when settlers considered that it was necessary to he unpleasant in order to dissociate themselves from the convicts.

“Sydney’s manners and accents are the worst. The inhabitants entirely disregard others’ feelings, and mispronounce the commonest words, I was very impressed with the women’s physique and beauty, but, oh! when they opened their mouths!

“Australia is a marvellous country, but if the inhabitants wish to hold it they must be prepared to admit Italians to the Northern Territory, and to modify the tariff poliev in favour of the primary producer. There is a certain regrettable jealousy toward the ‘new. chum, who is regarded as a potential menace to the standard of living. “Australia has not got scenery su ficiently attractive to justify a second visit. The. lack of history and culture makes it uninteresting to Europeans, but politically it among the most interesting countries in the world- Therefore, I hope to visit Australia again.”