PM Transcripts

No, 8.3/ 1962
FOR PRESS MEETING OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LIBERAL
SENATORS AND MEMBERS
Statement by the Prime Minister_, Rt.._ Hgn. RG. Menzies
I have this afternoon beei interviewed by
South Australian Liberal Senators and Members.. Those
present were Mr. Downer, Senators Buttfield, Hannaford and Laught
Sir John McLeay, Messrs. Kelly, Forbes and WJilson,
Meetings of this kind are by no means infrequent. My South
Australian colleagues have at all times actively presented
the problems affecting their own State.
I have informed them that on Monday next I will
be attending a Conference with the representatives of New
South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in relation to
the proposed Chowilla Damø. It will be remembered that the
economic value of the proposed dam having been established,
I undertook on behalf of the Commonwealth Government that
we would find a quarter of tho cost, following the pattern
previously established in relation to other River Murray
works. There have been some delays, but I am hoping very
much that we will be able to achieve finality on Monday.
It is indeed important that we should, since this additional
water storage is of vital importance to South Australia,
A deficiency of water is South Australia's greatest natural
disability, and my Government has for a long time been ready
and anxious to help to repair that deficiency.
While Sir Thomas Playford is here for the Conference,
I will of course take the opportunity of discussing with him
other outstanding South Australian requests in order that I
may not only more fully inform myself on the facts, but also
that I may learn of the order of priority that attaches to
these various proposals.
CANBEREA, 13th November, 1962.