REJECTED AS NONSENSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24424, 9 October 1940, Page 8

REJECTED AS NONSENSE

SIR THOMAS BEECHAM’S CRITICISM AUSTRALIANS IN REPLY (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. 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. Sir Thomas’s attack on the war effort. Mr Ashton said, did not follow the facts. The figures relating to manpower organisation and munitions production published recently in New Zealand newspapers would in themselves prove him wrong. Whaf 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 noi an isolated case Mr Ashton said. Sir Thomas 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, anv case, his criticism in that form was most, uncalled for from a visitor who had been a guest conductor in the 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 ho should not deny their existence.

STINGING COMMENT “AN IRASCIBLE MUSICIAN ” SYDNEY. Oct. 8. ißeceived Oct. 9, at 2 a.m.) The Sydney Sun, commenting editorially on Sir Thomas Beecham’s criticism cf Australia at Auckland, says: “ If the outbursts of Sir Thomas Beecham arouse any feeling at all it will be one of regret at such an exhibition by a distinguished visitor old enough and educated enough to know better. We have heard a good many criticisms of Australia, its people and institutions, but injured vanity or other personal reasons have never given us quite such a tirade as those we had from this . famous and irascible musician. It may be he has not been regarded as seriously as he believes he should be. but his shrieks merely indicate that whatever his stature as a musician his stature as a man of the world and philosopher is about equal to that of any bad-tempered old gentleman who cries ‘ Odj profanum vulgus ’ when inferior souls offend his vanity or disagree with his opinions. Sir Thomas Beecham’s mordant wit always had some entertainment value in his native land. If it often expresses itself in tirades of this kind, however, we can only wonder why it should attract any attention at all. We need not take too seriously a criticism so biased and so shrilly expressed. The only effect it will have is to cause surprise.”