OPENING OF THE AUSR A IAN-NEV ZEALP. IA
ECTION C' 1N A L" FIC
C'LE AT SYDN TJULY1 2
Speech by the Prime Minister. the Rt. Ho nzi
Sir, Parliamentary colleagues, Your Excellencies and Gentlemen:
You may have been tempted to wonder that my
colleague, being a politician, sat down on the tick of the
clock. This is not a common disease among us. The explanation
is that in front of me, as in front of him, as in front
of somebody else here, there's a flashing light that begins to
operate when you have fifteen seconds to go, and so if I finish
up in the middle of a sentence, you won't put it down to mental
decrepitude ( Laughter) with advancing years, you'll just understand
that the clock has struck and that's all you can do about
it. Sir, every time I hear the Postmaster-General
talk about something being Phase 2 and that Phase 3 is coming
along, I've learnt from long experience that Phase 4 is just
around the corner and Phase 5 The Treasury, particularly,
is always interested in those later developments, But I an
bound to say that when I attended this Conference in 1959 it
doesn't seem as long ago as that I little thought that the
practical work of getting on with this job would have proceeded
with such speed and such obvious skill, because this is a very
remarkable occurrence. There's a good deal of rhetoric spoken about
Australia and New Zealand getting closer together. I've heard
one or two people say that we ought to take New Zealand over,
I heard the Prime Minister of New Zealand say very witt. ly that
if the takeover business was in the air, he was quite prepared
to make an offer. ( Laughter) But, here we have something which,
in actual physical terrns joins Australia to New Zealand this
submarine cable, There s some dramatic significance about it,
And, of course, its great significance is in the field of communications.
Like some of you here today, I was born in the
nineteenth century. Some of my political opponents, one of
whom is here today, think that I was born in the seventeenth
century ( Laughter). Anyhow, it was the nineteenth century, and
the nineteenth century was a century in which communications were
slow and difficult. People wrote letters a great art which
has perhaps now passed into docay-c They travelled by stagecoaches
for a great part of the century. Steam began and the first steam
vessels began to emerge to take people from one country to another,
But if you were to look back on the nineteenth and make a sort
of comprehensive, sweeping statement, you would say that it was
the century of slow comUunications.
And if you look at our century the twentieth,
I: n sure you will agree with me that the groa revolution in
this century has been in the speed and variety of co. iM. unication.
Voice to voice around the world. Because of jet aircraft and
the like person to person around the world0 Because of the
miracle of cable and other services writing to writing around
the world. This is a tromendous revolution.
If you leave Sydney in a jet aircraft, as I have
repeatedly discovered you arrive in Honolulu before you leave
Sydny. You got to San Fr: ncisc3 an hour or two later,
Theres something about the Interoinational D& to Line which
explains this miracle, but I dcrnt understand the International
03# 000 / 2
Date Line and therefore I insist on saying that you arrive before
you leave. And if the jolly things get any faster, you'll arrive
anywhere in the world travelling in that direction before you
leave. But it is the most remarkable thing that, actually in
physical contact, this century should have put us in a position
where we are no more than a few hours away from many of the
people we would like to discuss things with.
And, of course, the miracle of the international
telephone, radio telephone, cable telephone, has I think been
simply incredible. Now, this is a wonderful thing. I is a
wonderful thing if we take advantage of it. I've never been one
of those who believed that if we all spoke the same language right
round the world we would be better friends. I don't think it
follows, because it's very difficult to quarrel with a man in a
language you don't understand. But it's very easy to quarrel
with him in a language that you do. And, therefore, that's not
the complete answer. But I believe, myself, that underneath it
all, this speed of communications, this growing knowledge that
people have of the other man's country and of other people, the
growing means they have of direct conversation all these
things -properly used, as I hope they will be, are going to
revolutionise the face of the world and, I think, have a profound
effect on international politics,
It was one thing some few years back, to say,
" Well, I'd like to find out what the Primo Minister of New
Zealand is thinking about this matter. Or the External Affairs
Minister might say, " I'd like to know what the External Affairs
Minister ( who is the same person) is thinking aoout it in New
Zealand. But with this, today, I think we've reached the
absolute ultimate with no interruption. If I want to talk to
the Prime Minister of New Zealand as I expect to in a few
minutes' time, you pick up the telephone, you rely on the Post
Office or whoever it may be, to give you a quick " through" and
there you are. You have a discussion about things which, if
they had to be put into other terms and sent in cespatches and
what not, would mean a delay of quite a long time.
So that I believe that we are, today, witnessing
or taking part in a quite historic event and, of course, when
the other phases are complete, when it's not only to New
Zealand, but to Honolulu to Vancouver, across Canada to Great
Britain, you'll have a ring through British Commonwealth
countries and, in particular, through those Commonwealth
countries which are within the direct allegiance to the throne
Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia You know,
together, we're not insignificant in this world. There are new
fashions, there are new organizations, there are new ideas, but
in the long run, it is on the cohesion of countries like those
I've mentioned that a good deal of the sanity of the world will
depend. And his will bring us closer together.
I frequently say that it is one of the oddities
of life -it is, too, that if one of my Ministers wants to go
to Perth, well, he goes to Perthe He goes aboard a plano and
goes there. It's not my business it's his. But if he wants
to go a much shorter distance, to Auckland, that . s an overseas
journey. That is written down in the book .( Laughter) It is
the subject of questions in the House. Now, of course, this is
all too silly. New Zealand is just as close to the great centres
of population in Australia as is the West Coast of Austrañ ia
itself. And this significant fact, this fact which ought to
have made us much closer than we are, is being underlined by
what happens today, Because this cable brings us, through this
mediui, closer and clearer to the Dominion of New Zealand. / 3
Ar. n' thiix is wiy a Prime Minister of Australia and
a Prime linister of New Zoaland can feel tremendously pleased
at the event that is being celebrated.
I said, Sir, that there were many ways and means
that had boon uvolvod in the twont: ioth cen tury for improving
communications. I'd just like to repeat before I conclude
that these are the mechanics of international relations,
They still leave the substance of international relations as
a matter of profound, human responsibility, The scientists,
the technologists, have given us to our hands and to our ears,
all the mechanical aids that we need and, of course, others
are still undreamed of. All the mechanical aids that we need
today to be in touch with people, to hear what they have to
say, to tell them what we have to say. And I believe that as
the scientists and the technologists have done this so it will
be the task of statesmanship around the world to see that these
things are applied in the highest possible fashion to produce
the greatest possible areas of understanding and of peace,
Now, Sir, in a couple of minutes' time I've been
given my instructions something happens and I pick up the
telephone and I have a conversation with Mr. Holyoake, You
will all listen in to it. I remember when I was at Canberra,
helping to open the coaxial cable, the Lord Mayor of Sydney
had a talk with the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and I thought he
beat him right off the track ( Laughter) and before we came down
here, I said to my colleagues up above, " You know, it's just
a gamble as to who gets in first, Mr. Holyoake or myself;
because whoever gets in first is likely to drive the other
man off the course ( Laughter). So, if you find that I have
too little to say, you will please credit that fact partly to
the superiority and attainments of my opposite number in New
Zealand and partly to my innate and well-known modesty,
( Laughter) Now, Sir that hasntt rung for me yet. They said
to me " Pick up the phone with your right hand" and I said,
" How do you know that I'm not a bit deaf in the right ear"
( Laughter). That's what they take for granted. I have misread
the clock, (' Phone rings)
Voice: Mr, Menzies, Mr, Holyoake is on the line.
Mr. Holyoake Hello, Bob.
Mr. Menzies: Hello, Keith, how are you?
Mr, Holyoake I'n just one hundred percent.
Mr. Monzios Where are you? In the Auckland Town Hall?
Mro Holyoake I'm in the Auckland Town Hall and obviously
you're here too, Bob, by the sound of your voice.
Mr. Menzies It; s pretty good servico, isn't it?
Mr, Holyoake Yes it's tcrrifi3
Mr, Menzies We must advertise it ( Laughter)
Mr. Holyoake It's cetting a pretty good kickoff today.
a 0a0 a00 S / 4
Mr. Menzies t
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Mr. Menzies Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr, Mr. Mr. Menzies Holyoake Menzies Holyoake
Menzies Holyoake:
Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr, Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr.
Mr. Mr. Holyoake Menzies Holyoake
Mr. Menzies Yes, Well I'm in the head offi. ce here, with
a couple o' hundred tired businessmen locking
on and listening in. Have you got the same
kind of thing?
I think just a little more than a couple of
hundred. I must always just top Australia,
musn't I?
That's quite right.
Little more than two hundred. A very, very
representative gathering.
Well it's quality rather than quantity that
counts. ( Laughter) How's Jack Marshall, is he
in good form?
Jack's very well, and highly appreciative of your
assistance, of course, over in London.
Are you taking him with you in September?
Most likely. I would think almost certainly.
I think he's frightfully good.
John McZoen going with you?
Yes.
We will look forward to forgathering with you.
That's right. Will you be going just at the
last moment, or a few days earlier?
It will depend on my House a bit. Will yours
be meeting at that time?
4oll, by a brilliant arrangement, heartily
concurred in on both sides, my House is not
sitting in Septomber, so that whoever is Prime
Minister at the end of August, will continue to
be Prime Minister until the end of September.
( Laughter)
I'm just a little more fortunate, Bob. I haven't
got quite the anxiety from the House that you have.
That's quite right. ( Laughter) And you even
improved your position at a by-election.
Well, we didn't win the seat, but it was
improved, yes.
Well I hope that there's an easterly wind blowing
and the habit comes over the Tasman ( Laughter)
I couldn't wish you more than that, of course.
Wo .11 do our best anyhow.,
I say, it's an extraordinary thing being hitched
up like this,
Tt's wonderful. It's a most historic affair, this
We've j. ust ben talking a out it here, 0 0 Ot@
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake t
Mr. Monzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoako t
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake Another close link,
You know what this means instead of sending
letters to you in future, i' 1 ring you up,
My goodness. Don't forget New Zealand is
ahead of Australia again, Bob,
I know that. Two hours ahead, in point of
time. Oh yes9 we've always conceded that.
Just another thought. This links us so much
more closely together, You remember when was
in Canberra five or six weeks ago, I made our
position quite cluar, didn't I, on the question
of the seventh State of the Commonwealth?
That's right. I was telling the audience here
about it, Vhat you said was, that if there was
any takeover talk in the air, you were prepared
to make a bid. Does that still stand?
Yes, that still stands.
i'll discuss the details with you when we meet
next, When you think, too, not of just Australia but a
link up through Canada and Britain. We are
going to talk just in this fashion. Perhaps we
won't have any more Commonwealth Prime Ministers'
Conferences,
Well, that's well on the cards. How does that
strike you?
W0ll1 I think that had better go on the Order
Paper. ( Laughter)
Yes, I think so.
Toc many people listening in.
Look, Keith, I think all the gentlemen who are
hero today would like me to ask you to convey
to your audience in the Auckland Town Hall the
warm good wishes that Australia. entertains
for your country. Would you do that?
Thank you very much, Bob. They've all heard
it over the loudsoeaker system, and can I on
behalf of everybody here, everybody assoclated
with this venture and, indeed, everybody in
New Zealand warmly reciprocate your good wishes
in that respect.
Thank you very much.
1 think, Bob, it's a tremendous experience for
us both, for me at least, it's a tremendous
experience to share this unique occasion with
youo a o@ e ** 04u3 ./ 6
Mr. Menz ie-
Mr. Holyoake
Mr. Menzies
Mr. Holyoake Thank you very much and I have exactly the
same feeling. As a matter of fact, I don't
need to tell you, we and your New Zealanders
like to have a chip at each other, You know,
it's rather the vogue, but down underneata it
all, there are those things between us, aren't
there, that can't be destroycd.
The closest and the deepest ties.
That's it, Perhaps, at this stage, I should
say the appropriate word, and you'll do yours
at your end, will you? I have the great honour
of declaring, on behalf of Australia, and at the
Australianmend, this cable open.
And I join with you, and on behalf of all the
people of New Zealand at this end, I join warmly
in declaring the cable officially open from the
New Zealand end.