PM Transcripts

tA U S THA A,,
PRIME MINISTER Press Statement No. 337
September 1974
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE COOK ISLANDS
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, announced
in Canberra today that he would be visiting the
Cook Islands and participating briefly in the
South Pacific Conference, which is being held there
from 25 September to 7 October 1974. He will be
in Rarotonga from 26-27 September, en route to the
United States to begin his North American visit.
The Australian delegation to the South Pacific
Conference will be led by the Minister for Science,
Mr. Morrison. Senators C. G. Primmer and N. T. Bonner
will also attend the Conference as Parliamentary
Observers. The 1974 Conference will meet under new
arrangements agreed on earlier this year. These
arrangements resulted from an initiative by the
Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Willesee, to
broaden and strengthen the Conference.
Mr. Whitlam said that Australia attaches importance
to the South Pacific Conference as the one body which
embraces all Pacific Island communities and those countries
which still have direct responsibilities in the area.
He said Australia saw its role in the South Pacific
as one of co-operation and good neighbourliness.
To this en& Australia supported the Conference in its
many activities directed towards the economic and social
development of the region.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.