BEECHAM OUTBURST

Evening Star, Issue 23701, 8 October 1940, Page 6

BEECHAM OUTBURST

REJECTED AS NONSENSE AUSTRALIANS THINK CRITICISM A JOKE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October S. Sir Thomas Beecham’s outburst against Australia was described by Mr T. H. Ashton, secretary of the Australian Imperial Force Association, as being in the very worst of taste and not worthy of serious. attention by Australians living in New Zealand, or by New Zealanders themselves. His attack on the war effort did not follow the facts. The figures relating to man-power v organisation and munitions production published recently in New Zealand newspapers would in themselves prove him wrong. What did Sir Thomas Beecham know of the sacrifice involved in raising five divisions of men, or of the sacrifices these men were now facing? The Auckland outburst was not an isolated case. He had said things 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 guest conductor in th® 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.