PM Transcripts

EMpmBTAuGeOda: y6P RESS STATEMENT NO. 559
EMpmBTAuGedOa: y616 September 1975
AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENCE GIFT TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA
* The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced this
evening that the gift from the Australian Government and
people to ma'rk the occasion of Papua New Guinea'ss
independence would take the form of a national library
building and~ associated books and equipment. Mr Whitlam,
who formally conveyed advice to this effect to the Papua
New Guinea Government at a ceremony in Port Moresby this
afternoon said that the gift accrn~ ded with the wishes of
the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Somare, and his
Government. The gift was estimated to cost up to $ 2 million.
A site for the building had already been allocated
in Port Moresby and Mr Whitlam said that he had proposed
to Mr Somare that the development of the project proceed
on 1 he basis of co-operation and joint consultation in such
matters as design, structure and library content, so that
when completed it would truly reflect the wishes of the two
countries and their people.
Mr Whitlam said he understood it was Papua
New Guinea's intention that the library would serve the
residents of other areas of Papua New Guinea as well as the
capital and he expressed the hope that in this way the gift
would benefit large numbers of people throughout Papua
New Guinea.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.,
PORT MORESBY