I EMBARGO
NOT FOR RELEASE BY ANY MEDIA UNTIL 10.50 PM
SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY. 1966
TEXT OF PRIME MINISTER'S " MEET THE PRESS" TV INTERVIEW
SUNDAY, 20TH FEBRUARY, 1966
Following is the full text of the interview given by
the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt, in the " MEET THE PRESS"
programme telecast by BTQ Channel 7 in Brisane tonight.
The Prime Minister recorded the programme while in
Brisbane last week.
Introduction by the Chairman, Mr. Reg. Leonard
Way back in the 1950' s when Mr. Lyons was Prime
Minister of this country, the reporters in the
Parliamentary Press Gallery at Canberra ard I
happened to be one zf them were writing rather
glowing phrases about an athletic young lawyer who
had entered the House in 1955 as Member for the
Melbourne metropolitan seat of Fawkner in succession
to a blind barrister named Maxwell. Well, looking
tack, I suppose in retrospect some of those phrases
look a bit corny now references to the baby of the
House and so on but there was a prediction made frr
a shining political future for this young man and
that certainly was right on the beam, because today
he is this nation's leader, and I am sure that all
you people after such a long association will
appreciate my pride when I Tintroduce to you the Prime
Minister of Australia, Mr. Harold Holt.
MR. HOLT Thank you, Reg. Good evening to you all.
MR. LEONARD Your Panel tonight: Alan Underwood, Elgin Reid
and Lionel IHogg.
And even with the Prime Minister, you know, there
must be a message or two from th; se who pay the bills, and
here they
MR. LEONARD Well Sir it's been a lng climb to the top.
This is the first time that we have had the honour of
a Prime Minister in our studio and with that we are very
pleased. Now, will you submit to this grilling of ours? ./ 2
-2-
MR. HOLT Certainly Reg. It is not the first time you have
taken me apart and I on't imagine it will be the last.
Chairman: Thank you. Well, now, Mr. Underwood,
Q. _ dIr. Prime Minister, when you announced postponement
of the Referendum a day or two ago, I think you said that
Cabinet felt there should be a thorough review of current
policies. Now, can we take this to signify that you meant
changes, modifications or even departures from Menzies
Government policies.
MR. HOLT: Not necessarily at all, but each government has a
character about it which is very much influenced by the person
and policies and thinking of the Head of the Government, and
here after a long administration of 16 uninterrupted years,
we felt it appropriate or at least I did when I began my
own Government, to take a look at some of the things we had
been doing. I would think that i. the main they would be fully
confirmed, but we live in a changing world. Australia itself
has been striving vigorously forward, and we are looking now to
a future which, as Denis Healey, the Minister for Defence from
Great Britain when he was out here was . aying, took him in his
thinking to the 1970' s even to the 1990' s. Now, a review of
policy looking forward doesn't necessarily connote dissatisfaction
with what was done. Indeed, I was part of what was done
and very proud of it, but I am sure the Australian people would
want us to take a fresh look at some of the basic policies we
have been pursuing to see whether they adequately meet the
situation we see ahead of us or whether there should be some
modification. I wasn't implying anything more than that.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, are you satisfied that you and Mr.
McEwen will be able to reach the same satisfactory relationships
that marked the Menzies/ Fadden and the Menzies/ McEwen Government?
MR. HOLT I am completely confident on that point. What seems to
be overlooked by some is that Jack McE., en and I have been close
colleagues now for thirty years, for more than two-thirds of that
time in office together. Even in Opposition, we sat on the
Opposition Executive together. We are good warm personal friends
and I am glad to say that the new administration has opened in
terms of complete cordiality and full co-cperation.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, the latest ALP upheaval. Do you
really think this stems from State Aid . r do you think it is
a revolt by the Parliamentary Party against the dictation of
the Federal Executive?
MR. HOLT: I think it is a product of the disintegration and decay
that has been going on now for many years inside the Labor
Party. Here is a party, once a very great party, which had
conviction and cause over years, which followed the gaining of
many of its more important goals. I think that spirit has
gone from it. It was a socialist party and, nominally, still
professes to be a socialist party but 1+ s own members realise
that the Australian community of today doesn't want a socialist
programme in that doctrinaire sense, and yet there it is. They
haven't found something which they can substitute which would
meet the needs of the modern Australia, and sa lacking a cause,
lacking conviction, then their attention, I think tends to be
turned more to personalities and to organisational problems.
Q. Would this be the split again the DLP split, do you
think? With the same source?
-3-
MR. HOLT: Well, there you did have this major split. Certainly
there were important policy elements but the division is more
likely to occur because there is nothing to which any of them
can point as firm Labor policy which they in their Caucus have
evolved. Indeed, their rules don't enable them to do that
unless they have gained the approval of the group to which
Mr. Whitlam made this ra~ her unkind reference of the " witless
12". We at least were rather mere polite when we talked about
the " faceless 36".
Q. Do you subscri. be to the theory, politics apart, that it would
be a better thing if the quarrel were patched up and you had a
stronger Opposition on the basis that government is better
when opposition is strong?
MR. HOLT: I think the Parliament functions better when there is
a strong Opposition, but in my experience when the Opposition
is weak, there tends to be rather more internal opposition
developing inside the Government's own ranks. We found, for
example, when we only had a majority of one, there was closer
cohesion and unity of action on the part of our own Government
parties than has been the case since we had a majority of more
than 20, and at a time when the Opposition was weak. I don't
think a government can ever relax and feel things are so good
or so comfortable that it doesn't have to worry about the
future.
Q. You don't really think that where you have a large, thumping
majority that the Heads of the Government tend rather to neglect
the insignificant members who are supporting them?
MR. HOLT Well, that's not the way it works out in my experience,
because the insignificant members that you speak of have
significant votes on issues which arise inside the party room,
and in my experience Ministers, however highly placed,
( and this went for tAe former Prime Minister, ir Robert
Menzies) are very sensitive to the feelings of their backbench
supporters. No, I don't think you need worry on that
score, but I do aree that it is not a healthy t1' ng for a
Parliament to lackan effective Oppisition. But this is up
to the Labor Party to produce it. We will naturally try to
win as many seats as we can.
Q. You are not actually plugging, Sir, for a one majority again
in the next election, are you?
R. HOLT: Certainly not! I would hope to improve on the twenty-add
that we have at the present time.
Q. What significanue do you see Sir, in the ALP's having
elected five Left Wing members to its Foreign Affairs Committee?
MR. HOLT: This is the Federal Executive?
Q. Yes.
MR. HOLT: Well, I think the significance of this is where the
source of power currently lies inside the Australian Labor Party.
The Labor Party has been the voice of the trade union movement
in Australia and for some years now, the more significant of
the unions nr several of them have been under strong Left
Wing leadership. Now this has made its impact on the thinking
of he Caucus and quite obviously it is reflected in the
Federal Executive. / 4
-4-
Q. What do you think, Sir, of this State Aid plan for education
that Mr. Calwell has put out 10/-for
MR. HOLT: This dollar-a-week plan? -ell, obviously it was a
hasty product designed to offset the argument in the other
direction, and it doesn't require very much analysis to show
how unsatisfactory it could be in practice. Certainly, those
who received an extra dollar a week would be glad to have it.
People are always glad to have some extra money. But what
about the parents whose children are under the school age and
who are no included in this benefit but who have to pay
increased taxation in order to finance the 80 million dollars
which Mr. Calwell estimates the new proposal to cost.
Q. Would yuu say it is a child endowment policy rather thai
an education policy?
MR. HOLT: Well, it is not even a general child endowment policy.
This is the Point I've just been trying to make. It would apply
to some children but not to many others who, for the parents
concerned, represent a family burden.
Q. Do you think there could be any guarantee that the dollar
would be devoted to education and not to other purposes?
MR. HOLT: I don't think there would. I think ours is a much
more practicable approach, but as I said earlier, this has
all the atmosphere and mark about it of improvisation to meet
a political situation.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister we notice that housing construction is
down, car sales have been down and the effects of the drought
are still with us. Could you give us, please, your oomment on
the state of the economy?
MR. HOLT: Well, Mr. Underwood you have picked on some of the
weak spots. There are, fortunately, a good many strong spots
and you may have noticed that Professor Horrie Brown, who
Mr. Calwell said had helped him with his last Budget Speech,
recently went on record as saying that the economy was currently
in excellent shape. The soft spots that have been referred to
have been receiving consideration frnm us but it is about this
time of the year that Cabinet makes a thorough review of the
economy, and we shall be doing this before Parliament meets.
I prefer to reserve any more specific comment until we have
done that. We do intend, of course, to maintain a full
employment situation and a buoyant economy throughout the year.
Q. Just to clear up one point on this Cabinet review Sir.
Would that by any chance point to a supplementary budget?
MR. HOLT: In practice this doesn't occur unless the drift in the
economic si uation has reached a degree that seems to call for
some abnormal action. It has occurred in the past, but I
don't see anything in the current situation which could call
for mere than marginal treatment.
Q. For some months now Mr. Holt, economists have been warning
of the drifting payments position with our import and export
balance. Are you worried about this at all, unduly?
MR. HOLT: Well, Australia always has to be concerned to some
degree about its balance of payments situation. We are
affected by fluctuating climatic conditions. We are
affected by fluctuations in the prices we get for our export
products, and we im prt heavily * or the requirements of an
affluent society and for a growing economy, but there is
nothing, in the current situation which us cause for, ives
alarm. Indeed, over recent weeks as I. ve seen the figures,
the balance has tended to rise rather than fall. This is
largely because there is a tendency now f~ r imports to steady
down and there is a very strong and 2ustained inflow of
capital.
Q. There is no chance now 6f another squeeze, another tight
sqaeeze like the last one, coming up?
12. HOLT: Well, that should not be necessary.
Q. I don't want to embarrass you by asking you for exact
figures this is a snap question but our overseas reserves
are healthy at the moment, are they?
MR. HOLT: Yes, very healthy in historical terms. I mean there are
not all that many years when Australia could p int to external
reserves as high as they are now plus the fact that we have
drawing rights which constitute our second line of reserves
with te International Monetary Fund, and these have recently
been increased as a result of us taking up the opportunity
available to us in expanded reserve availability which the Fund
had decided upon.
Q. Sir, this would mean that neither the level of our
reserves or the trend nf our balance now would be likely to
cause your Government to have to take any emergency action.
MR. HOLT: No, but what we have been doing for some time is trying
to bring the economy into a better state of balance. I thifik
that's been effectively achieved.
Mr. Chairman: Well, now, could we change the sub ject, perhaps. There
is a lot of territory to cover. Ihat about our commitments in
the near North?
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, what is your short answer to the
eo~ le who tell you that we ought not to be fighting in Viet
am.
M2. HOLT: Well, I don't encounter very many of them, I am glad to
say. I think most Australians recognise that what is happening
in South Viet Nam constitutes a great struggle involving
eventually the security of this country, that here we are
meeting one of the critical challenges in the history of
mankind, and that is the way we see it, and this is why we
are there in Viet Nam, helping to strengthen by our presence,
not necessarily by the size o our forces, the United States
which has undertaken tremendous burdens on behalf of the free
world in this context.
Overseas, Mr. Holt, a lot of eople apparently see this
as a national war of liberation in ie Nam in whic Australia
and America are interfering.
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MR. HOILT: liell some people see it th-, t way. There are some
people in kustralia who see it that way, but I have studiied this
as closely as I can. I have been present at discussions
between men of the highest authority in these matters from
the United States and from our own Departments of advice
Service Departments, External fffairs, and I have studied a
good deal of the evidence which come2 to us, and there can
be no doubt that this goes far beyond the sort of civil war
that Mr. Calwell has been talking about. There is clear
evidence not only of infiltration, of subversion from the
North, of the supply of equipment from the North but nowt, of
course, military forces as wiell, m-d behind it, the guiding
hand of the Chinese communists with their goal of world
domination.
Q. There have been constant rumours of more troops,
Australian troops, being sent to Viet Nam. Is this correct?
MR. HOLT: Well, these are rumours, and I am not able or prepared
to comment on those matters. Normally, when the Govecrment
has any announcement to make of this sort, it involves
simultaneous announcements with other governments, or some
notification of other governments. I couldn't make a comment
on that.
Q. Should Australians accept the probability Sir, that we
will be maintaining troops in Viet Nam -for probably some years?
Or do you have a hope of an earlier peace?
MR. HOILT: Well, nobody can say with ayauthorityr hcw long this
struggle will be drawn out, or whether negotiations are in
the picture. Certainly the United States has been maintaining
thoe stactve eace of fensive that any country could i l
sincerity, be maing, but it took us a long, time in Maiaaa
it then was to tidy up communist guerrilla activity in That
country and a much less complicated task than the one which
is faced. in South Viet Nam. On the other hand, of course,
the forces which have been supplied are very considerable
indeed, and the pressures and sensitivities arouind the world
are very much greater th ~ n was the case in the Malaysian
situation. 71e can only hope while at the same time making it
firmly clear that we are not departing from the safeguarding
of what seemed to us to be essential conditions, essential
principles as we see them from Australia.
Q. Excuse my asking this, Sir, but it relates to your
previous answer that simultaneous announcements are made about
such matters as sending more troops. I am oing to ask this
because I think a lot of viewers out there will be asking it.
Doesn't that at once indicate that more troops are to be sent
because you would not be making simultaneous announcements
if nothing was...
MR. HOLT: I say this is the practi. e, and therefore you don't
answer a question of that sort just off the cuff at even the
most respectable of television sessions.
Q. I gather that you are not going to answer.
Q. Mr. Holt, I have two very short questions about the
first battalion in Viet Nam. When will it be relieved,
and ( b Do you intend to strike a special medal for the troops
for Viet Nam service?
-7-
MR. HOLT: I c-n't give ynu a precise date en the first question,
but I can say it is the intention that there should, in
respect of the troops who go there from time to time, be a
programme of relief and the Service people wild have this
matter well in hand. As to a special medal again I am not
able to give a decisinn, out I can say that this matter has
been engaging my attention that there is a document which
has recently become available from the various Departments and
Services involved and now available for the Cabinet, which
will be discussing it, I hope in the next fortnight.
Q. Can I just get in this questien? You have said, Sir
that this is a battle against communism and its encroachment.
Could I ask a question that has been puzzling us a littl3
while what happened to the Government's promised I don't
know whether it was promised, but indicated White Paper on
communism in Australia?
MR. HOLT: Well. again, we have had a look at this one on more than
one occasion, but we haven't as yet decided to release such a
White Paper. I am not going to canvass nc'w the arguments
which run pro and con bn this matter or the difficulties
which arise in relation to it. It would take more time than
we have available here. All I can tell you is that it has
engaged the attention of Cabinet more than once over recent
years.
Q. It indicates that, at any rate, it is prepared
MR. HOLT: Not in any final form. There have been earlier draftings
of the sort of thing that could be released if the Government
decided that this should be done.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, you have had, very recently, talks
with the British Defence 1Minister, Mr. Healey. Are we right
in gathering that you feel reassured that British Defence
Forces will be staying in the Indian Ocean and South East
Asian area longer, perhaps, than you had first thought, and
that we can expect UK defence co-operation?
MR. HOLT: We were able to impress, I am sure, Mr. Healey with the
importance that Australia, New Zealand, and, I would think,
the United States, attaches to a British presence in that
area, and the assurance which apparently Mr. Healey gave the
Premier of Singapore recently would be in confirmat ion vf
what I am now putting. And therefore we can expect the United
Kingdom to hola on f~ r a considerable period cf time in
Singapore. But discussing the matter quite realistically
and remember, our talks with Mr. Healey were looking many
years ahead, I repeat, he got as far as the 90' s of this
century, and that is, although a long way away, still not too
far away for us to be thinking and planning for contingencies
which could arise, and we felt it would be useful if our
Service people could talk over together ways in vhich if we
were, for example, establishing some service establishment
here, either Army, Navy or Air Fyrce, that we might have in
mind that a situation could arise in which British servicemen
would be wanting to make some use of that facility also.
But there is no commitment, and no firm decision zf detail
6n this matter.
Q. Does this mean Mr. Holt, that if these forces you talk
about do come here when and if Sinapore is given away by
Britain, that you will give bases to Britain in Australia?
-8-
MR. HOLT: There has been no decision on this point, but it is
clearly in our interests, and we would hope in the common
interests, for the closest collaboration and Service cooperation
between ourselves and the United Kingdom and New
Zealand, and we would hope that, so far as the area generally
is concerned, this could extend to the United States of
America. They have, together, an interest with us in the
stability and economic progress of this region.
Q. ~ ould yau agree, Mr. Holt, that it is to America, and
not so much To Britain these days that Australia has to look
primarily for defence aid?
MR. HOLT: We have our arrangements under ANZUS and SEATO with
the United States. Of course the United Kinordom io a party
to SEATO, and this assurance we've had from the United
Kimgdom about their continued presence East of Suez in
substantial force is an indication that they will be playing
a part in the security of the area. I don'l think I would
want to be distinuishing publicly as between one or the
other; in some situations we will be involved with the United
Kingdom to a greater extent than, say, we would be with the
United States. This is what is happening in respect of
Indonesian confrontation. On the other hand, in Viet Nam,
there we are involved with the Unite4 States.
Q. It would be realistic, Sir, would it net, to imagine
that in the event of a crisis for Australia Britain couldn't
provide massive help on the lines that the United States
might be able to?
MR. HOLT: Well I don't think we are expectin-Great Britain to
fight our tattles for us. On the other hand, Australia, at
this stage of its development, can't meet every challenge which
could conceivably be directed against it entirely of its own
strength. That is why we have these alliances, but I wouldn't
like to pursue against suppositions or contingencies too much
public discussion on a matter of this sort. I thin we have
robably covered it about as widely as I feel I wish to at
his point. Mr. Prime Minister, the Defence programme is expanding,
and this money has to come from somewhere. Does this mean
that eventually there will be new taxes? You must raise
this money somehow.
0. HOLT: This of course depends on the degree of growth.
Certainly fhe possibility is there of some increase because
of the growth in the Defence programme. On the other hand,
we have an expanding economy, returning increased revenue to
the Government, year by year. It becomes a matter of
judgment as to where any increase which comes to us from the
r owth in our national product and the taxable income derived
rom that, , ihere this should be directed, and this is one cf
the teasing aspects of government, this problem cf balance cr
the distribution cf resources.
Q. This revolution in Indonesia, Mr. Holt, do you think
that this has given Australia the chance to improve relationships
with Indonesia and vice versa?
-9-
MU. HOLT: Australia wants ta be a friend of Indonesia. We've
demonstrated that many times, not merely because they are
our nei hbours immediately to our North 100 million of
them ut because it is our general disposition as a people
to want to be friends with the countries that lie to the
north of this country indeed, friends around the world.
But at this stage, I think it is rather too early to say what
the prospects are of an improved relationship. I may say
that I had a very cordial message from the President of
fndonesia, Dr. Sukarno, when I became Prime Minister, and
also on Australia Day: a message also from Dr. Subandrio.
And I did have the pleasure of meeting General ñ, asution when
he was out here and was very much impressed bi him. I would
hope that he has a growing influence in the affairs of that
country, and that this could be a contribution to better
relations betwnen us.
Mr. Holt, just how seriously do you regard Indonesia's
confrontation with Malaysia at the moment?
MR. HOLT: Well it is a serious matter for us and for the British.
Apart from anything else, it ties upa considerable body of
servicemen from our respective countries and is very costly
on that account if on no other, but it creates tensions for
us all; it is disruptive in respect of Singapore and
Malaysia. V ' e would certainly look to see an endto it,
hopefully, but there is nothing in sight which would encourage
us tt be lieve that this was going to happen.
Have there been any indications of Indonesian trespassing
in Australian New Guineai
MR. HOLT: None that has come to my noti~ ce.
Do you think that Indonesia will allow West Irian to
make up its own mind eventually? Will the go to the people
there at all, or do you think They will just take over?
MR. HOLT: Oh, I wouldn't wish to comment on that one at this stage.
I think we are getting into the realm of possibilities. There
is nothing specific on this before us at the present time.
Q. Then perhaps the Asian nation which we would have reason
to fear most, if we have to fear a nation, that would be, of
course, China.
MR. HOLT: Well, China has made known its intention to go to world
domination with its philosophy, if it can achieve that goal,
and the Chinese are a patient people, but they have shown a
firmness and a resolution on this matter quite unwaveringly
since they took office. Now, we have learnt to our cost in
the past that it is dangerous to igmore what dictators say
about their intentizns. This was so of Hitler, this was so
o Mussolini this was so in the case of the Japanese general
who stated te Japanese intentions. And the Chinese gave
set out their gols clearly enough, I think, for us to know
where they inteni to go.
Q. Well, gentlemen, would you care to change the subject
now
10
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, you were Minister for Immigration
at one period. ihat is your viewpoint to-day on immigration?
Do you think our present immigratinn policies are liberal
enough?
MR. HOLT: You are speaking of the restricted aspect of immigration?
Q. Yes.
MR. HOLT: Each country, of course reserves to itself these days,
the right to the content of its population, and all countries,
in our neighbourhood anyhow, maintain quite restriotive
immigration policies, but in Australia, we have maintained
the policy, over recent years anyhow, with what I described
when I was Minister myself, humanity and good sense. Now
there have been changes in the scene around us which, while
not going to some fundamental change in our own policy, might
indicate to rs that we should be reviewing the conditions
which operate in respect of certain classes of migrant or
settler in this country. For example, we do currently have
a difference in the period required for naturalisation between
the European settler and the non-European. Now this is a
matter which, I think should be looked at. There may be
powerful reasons why the distinction was observed at the time
the rule came into effect, but it's one of the matters I am
having currently Qxamined.
Q. Just to make it clear Sir, you were in this referring
we are talking about Asians, no doubt.
MR. HOLT: That is so.
Q. Would your review include the possibility of allowing
Asian students to remain in Australia?
MR. HOLT: I don't think we would be doing any service to the country
from which they came if we were to do this. I know that our
own students at the universities form strong friendships with
many of the Asian students who go through the universities,
but they have come to Australia with the primary object on the
part of the country whence they came bf strengthening the
economy and administration of that country, and if Australia
was to reap by some change in its present rules, the cream of
those who pass through the university here from Asia, I don't
think we would be very popular with Asian governments.
Q. Would it encompass such matters as that which many
people thought was inhumane the deportation of a little girl
named Nancy Prasad? Cases like that I mean. I don t know
the background of the case, and I make no special pleadings
in it.
MR. HOLT: Well, I was long enough in the Department of Immigration
to kncw that it is unwise to condemn a decision on what can
be stated publicly. There are frequently personal, private
family reasons which have a bearing on these matters, and
I am not familiar with all the details in the Prasad case,
but I do have the confidence in the warm humanity which the
Immigration Department displayed over the years since the
war while this programme has been in effect, so that I am not
prepared to prejudge the matter without a full awareness of
all the circumstances.
' ii
Q. Mr. Holt, can we infer from all of this that there is
certainly not going to be any wholesale rescinding of the
White Australia policy?
MR. HOLT: Well, we don't have a White Australia policy. You
mean restrictive immigration policy.
Q. That's the public service term for it, perhaps, but
perhaps you will allow us to use our term.
Q. I think we shouild get away from it as much as possible.
Chairman: In any case, the question is clear.
MR. HOLT: Yes, the question is clear. The current policy is
supported by the great majority of the Australian people,
but there is scope at times for liberalisation of conditions.
This was done by us in the case of marriages to Japanese
wives. This has been done in a number of-other instances,
and we shall have coming to Australia as our trade builds up
with the countries of Asia an increasing number of technicians,
executives; the will want to bring families with them.
Some of them will find themselves settled here for a number
of 4ears. The point I am making about review is that we
donyt necessarily go to the fundamentals of the policy when
we make such a review; but there may be aspects of it that
we should -e looking at in the light of what we see, the
circumstances with which we are likely to be confronted in,
say, the next decade.
With great respect, Sir, don't you think that the
majority of Australians are taking a mere liberal approach
an immigration now than they were say ten or fifteen years
ag?
MR. HOLT: I think they are.
Q. Mr. Holt, we have had an encouraging preliminary report
from Sir William Hudson on the Northern Development. I t ink
he dealt with irrigation. Can you tell us, please, if we
can expect, Sir, any new kind of breakthrough in northern
development?
MR. HOLT: I think a very great deal is going on in the way of
northern development. ' dhat is overlooked is the commercial
activity, the industrial activity of the private operators.
I heard a fi ure mentioned I think I am right in quoting
this one aT $ 800 million of development expenditure
currently going on north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Now
don't hold me to that, because I haven't got this precisely
in mind, but there is, if you take the programme as a whole,
the private programmes and the Government programme...
Q. Including the West
MR. HOLT: a great dell of activity going on at the present
time. Yes, but Queensland is also saring this and
certainly the Northern Territory.
Q. Talking of the North, this week in Dawson. What
makes you think the Country Party can hold this against the
very strong ALP onslaught?
12
MR. HOLT: Well, first of all, the ALP itself is not very strong
at the moment, and I am sure that this is % ell recognised in
Dawson, jadging by some of the comment I heard while I was
up there. But as to the confidence we have in our capaoity
to hold the seat, our own candidate is a practical man, an
enterprising younger member of a sugar-producing fami lya nd
sugar is a vital commodity in the Dawson electorate. Hte has
been overseas as a member of the Young Farmer group, he has
shown an intelligent and modern approach to the pro lems of
the area the farmin roblems, agricultural problems, and
I think Ae will spea he language of Dawson much more
realistically over the years ahead than a man who is
crusading very commendably for one particular line of activity
but hasn't so far taken a battleground other than that of
northern development; and a representative of Dawson will
have to involve himself in a great many more iesues than this.
And of course, I would believe that the electors of Dawson
would like to feel they had a voice in the Party Room of the
Government.
Chairman: I ask you that because we did have Dr. Patterson here
a couple bf weeks ago, and we did nit have Mr. Fordyce, so
I thiink now we have presented both sides.
Q. A bit further north than Dawson, Mr. Prime Minister
New Guinea. In your reviews of policies, are you having
a look at the likely time it will take for New Guinea to
reach a stage where it will be independent, whether you will
have to change policies in New Guinea to any extent?
MR. HOLT: No, we have got a very active programme of development
g~ ing forward with our assistance in Nw Guinea. This is
not only in the economic sense, but in the sense of governmental
administration, constitutional development; we have
been making reviews from time to time of the pace of constitutional
development with the idea of leading or guiding the
people in New Guinea to a point of viable indeendence. The
interesting thing is to see how they caution themselves
against too rapid a pace. They want this to be done in a
way which will leave them sufficiently strong when they assume
independence to be able to stand on their own feet, and to
be able to conduct their own affairs in a proper fashion.
Q. Do you favour a recent suggestion Mr, Holt, that the
New Guinea people be given an opportunity of a referendum
to cast their own vote as to whether they would like to
become in fact a seventh State of Australia?
MR. HOLT: Surely this is a very involved matter which would require
far more than a casual comment from me at this point. I am
not sufficiently well-informed on it to make the comment.
Chairman: Look, with time running out, you know that before the
end of this year, Mr. Holt has to take on a job he has never
had to do before. He has to lead a government in an election.
Would anybody like to touch on that facet?
Q. Yes. Mr. Holt, in the next, in the coming election,
would you rather do battle with Mr. Calwell than with Mr.
Whitlam?
A t 15
MR. HOLT: After all I have been involved in many elections since
I came in in 195. Indeed, I cut my campaigning teeth in
1954 against Mr. Scullin. So I am not
Q. Obviously you weren't leading the Government then. It
makes it a much more difficult task.
MR. HOLT: No, but I have been in a senior role in Government for
many years now, and there have been times in particular
campaigns when I have been leading the campaign ef the Government
in a particular State. I am not troubled by the prospect
of going into a vigorous electinn campaign, and, Tfrankly,
I think we will win handsomely regardless ef what emerges
from the present disarray of te Labor Party.
Q. Do you think the will vote for the Government and not
worry about the Opposition?
MR. HOLT: I don't think the Oppesition can produce even if it
could find the complete answer in terms of leader, I don't
think it can produce in that time the policies needed for the
Australia of to-day. They w6uld have to scrap so much of
their existing policy structure in order to achieve that result,
and I don't think they will achieve it in the time.
Chairman: Well, we will regard that as the first shot in the next
election campaign, . and our forty-five minutes is up, and I have,
to my great regret to close down, but I am coming back again
to the Prime Minister after this message
Well, Prime Minister, I didn't think that so much ground would
be covered in the forty-five minutes that we had at our disposal,
but it has been covered and a great deal of useful information
given. I am quite sure that our viewers recognise that there
were some curly questions to which you had to play a straight
bat, and as a former inquisitor at Canberra, I can certainly
appreciate it. All that remains for me now is to say thank
you very much. We are greatly privileged that you have come
o Queensland for your first full-scale interview of this kind.
We do hope that we will see you again. Good night, Sir.
MR. HOLT: Thank you Mr. Leonard. Thank you to you all.