STANDARDS IN SPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1938, Page 8

STANDARDS IN SPORT

ENGLISH CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIANS MR R. G. MENZIE’S PROTESTS. ROOM FOR MUTUAL RESPECT. (Recd This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, June 21. As a sequel to a broadcast address by the Australian Attorney-General, Mr R. G. Menzies, in which he complained of unfair criticism of the Australian cricket team in regard to the first Test match, and which was given wide prominence in the British Press, several newspapers have sought a further statement. Mr Menzies informed the Australian Associated Press that he had circulated the following statement: —“I am of opinion that the Australians played great cricket to achieve a draw. Of course, "they are not immune from criticism for slow play and cannot complain if they get it, but what many Australians resent is the assumption, underlying much of the evening Press criticism, that Australians have a lower standard of conduct than Englishmen and that an English team, placed similarly to Bradman’s on the third day at Nottingham, would have risked everything for a practically impossible win. Frankly, I do not believe it. I do not believe there is any difference between the two teams’ sporting standards. It is a poor service to our much-needed Empire unity for any journalist to adopt as his motto: ‘Thank God, I am an Englishman and not . one of those poor benighted Australians.’ After all, I strongly suspect that Englishmen and Australians are hewn from the same rock and therefore have common qualities and defects.” Mr Menzies added that his statement was not designed to stir up strife, but was made because unfair comments were doing great harm.