PM Transcripts

I iJAN me
FOR PRESS: VLAR PM. No. 2/ 1968
ABANDONMENT OF PORTSEA SEARCH
Statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John McEwen
The Prime Minister, Mr McEwen, announced today that
the organised search for the late Mr Harold Holt would cease tomorrow
( Friday) following advice given yesterday by the Victorian Government.
The Victorian Government said the Chief Commissioner of
police, after consultation with representatives of other organisations
participating In Portsea Searcil advises that It Is the opinion of all
concerned that It Is quite hopeless to pursue search further.
It was with the deepest regret, said Mr McEwen, that the
Commonwealth Government had agreed that there was no purpose in
continuing the search any longer. Every area where any clue to Mr Holt's
disappearance might be found had b een searched thoroughly many times.
The search over the past eighteen days had extended westward
to Barwon Heads and eastward beyond Cape Schanck. It had covered
extensively Cheviot Bay and other ocean beaches, the Point Nepean headland
and the bayside beaches in proximity to the Rip.
The Search operation had been co-ordinated by the Victorian
Police and had included the Navy, Army and Air Force, civil aircraft,
a number of Commonwealth and State organisations, volunteer forces and
members of the general public.
Everything had been done in an effort to establish the fate of
Mr Holt. A helicopter search and beach patrols had been maintained
this week but would now be withdrawn on Friday.
" I take this opportunity once again", said Mr McEwen, " of
publicly thanking all those who responded so promptly and have given
their time to this exthaustive and continuous search."
CANBERRA, 4th January, 1968