Genuine Criticism

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 273, 8 February 1928, Page 1

Genuine Criticism

MR. HOGBEN AND ROTARY

Fair report of Speech

* p the circumstances I thought THE SUN’S report a very I fair one.” This is Mr. Julius Hogben’s comment on the suggestion by Mr. A. J. Hutchinson (Rotary name “Hutch”) that Mr. Hogben’s address to the Rotary Club on “Rotary ** the Man in the Street Sees It,” was intended to be humor ons.

fc conveying this suggestion by ciri . j to members Mr. Hutchinson In t * ie a-ddress was intended j® De, and was. humorous, and was conveyed by. two papers, jniie the reporter of one paper (The Pun) lacked a sense of humour, and C”* j seriousness that was never Hogben ’" * n *° wor< * s use< i by Mr. Prtopß the best authority on nether the speaker intended to be serious or humorous is Mr. Hogben himself, and whether The Sun or the Jr? er Papers correctly judged the lues of his address is indicated by ms remarks quoted above. an amplifying: statement made morning in reply to the question, tensaid°- serious or not?” Mr. Hog“JJy answer is this: When I was asked to address i- 5T y on the v '« ws of the man V*, • atreet, I refused to do so hi | had explained clearly to the wW **■ responsible that f»at I should have to say would * cr . , *' c ** of Rotary and probably npalatable to Rotarians. the Rotarians this in opent.,?™. also told them that in com“nicatJng what I firmly believed to

be the views of the man in the street, I should be honest and downright. “The humour I attempted in the address waa intended and the criticism was serious. “Although I had been told in. advance that they would welcome the views of the man in the street, I was nevertheless a little surprised, and naturally very gratified, that what was intended as a combination of goodnatured ridicule and straightforward criticism should have been so generously received by the Rotarians at whom it was aimed.”