IGNORING THE WAR

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 240, 12 October 1942, Page 2

IGNORING THE WAR

LUXURY-LOVING AUSTRALIANS 74,000 PEOPLE AT RANDWICK. TIMELY CRITICISM OF PUBLIC.

P.A. Special.

SYDNEY, Oct. 12.

Criticism of the public "attitude of unreality" towards the war has been made in Australia. "It was a disgrace, after Mr Curtin's austerity appeal, to see 74,--000 people at Randwick races on Saturday," said Arthur Mailey, the international cricketer. "The money spent at Randwick would have bought 50 planes. Organ • ised sports in wartime should be confined to schoolboys. The nation should forget every game which takes manpower and money from the war effort. Sport, however, should be encouraged among the troops and every available ground should be turned over to the fighting services." A bombing raid or two on the Australian capitals might be a blessing in disguise, said Mr H. J. Timperley, adviser to the Chinese National Government's Board of Information. Comparing the Australians' attitude to the war with the stubborn heroism of the Chinese Mr Timperley, who is himself an Australian, said that when he heard his well-fed countrymen complaining of the shortage of luxuries he thought of the millions in China living on the verge of starvation. Debates on whether victory suits should have waisteoats made him remember that millions in China had scaroely a rag to their backs. "Our responsibility as Australians is to try to live up to the Chinese example of bravery and endurance which has never been excelled in . human history," declared Mr Timperley.