PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS s P. M. 58/ 1964.-
SIR JOHN LATHLAM
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies
Sir John Latham wasn one of the outstanding
Australians of our time and he will not easily be forgotten.
He gave a lifelong example of what could be done by a man
of lofty and tenacious character whose devotion to duty
was always backed by uncommon abilities and unflagging
energy. It was my good fortune to be a law student
under him and thereafter his junior and opponent at the
Bar and his successor in Kooyong and in the Commonwealth
Attorney-Generalship. I had good reason to know him well. To know
him well was to understand the full nature of his contribution
to our life as a nation and the deep springs from
which that contribution came.
CANBERRA, July, 1964.
The Prime Minister waid that under normal circumstances
Sir John Latham would have been accorded a btate
? uneral by the Commonwealth Goveriment. However, some time
ago Sir John made it known that this would be against his
wishes, and this has since been confirmed by Sir John's
family. The Prime Minister said instructions were being
issued that flags on Commonwealth buildings throughout
Australia should be at half-mast from sunrise to sunset
on the day of the funeral, Tuesday 28th July.