PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS. PM. No. 95/ 1971
VISIT OF NEW ZEALAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL
The Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Arthur
Porritt, and Lady Porritt will r-ake a State Visit to
Australia from October 27 to November 7.
It will be the first official visit to Australia
by the vice-regal couple and is being made at the invitation
of the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Paul Haslucko
Sir Paul and Lady Hasluck visited New Zealand in
February and the exchange of visits, the first of its kind,
is seen as a useful part of a policy of maintaining close
relationships between New Zealand and Australia.
During the visit Sir Arthur and Lady Porritt will
visit Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Bathurst and the
Blue Mountains. In Canberra their programme includes a Government
reception at Parliament House, an inspection of ' Merryville'
and ' Hillview' properties and a visit to the Australian War
Memorial. They will attend the Melbourne Cup meeting on
November 2 and during their time in New South Wales will tour
the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves.
Sir Arthur, a Rhodes scholar and international
sportsman, is the first native-born representative of the
Crown in New Zealand.
An outstanding athlete, he was the first member
or the New Zealand team to win an Olympic Medal in a track
and field event, gaining a bronze medal in the 100 metres at
the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
He has been Serjeant-General to the Queen since
1952 and earlier was a surgeon to King George Vl from 1946 to
1952. Sir Arthur and Lady Porritt will undertake the
following itinerary while in Australia:-
Wednesday, October 27 a. m. Wellington/ Sydney/ Canberra
Saturday, October 30 a. m Canberra/ Hobart
Monday, November 1 a. m. Hobart/ Melbourne
Thursday, November 4 a. m. Melbourne/ Blue Mountains
Friday, November 5 a. m. Blue Mountains/ Sydney
Sunday, November 7 a. m. Leave Sydney
CANBERRA October, 1971.
BACKGROUND: The Commonwealth Pres Liaison Officer for the
visit is Mr. G. Dixon of the Canberra Office of the Australian
News and Information Bureau. He may be contacted at telephone612123