FOR PRESS: PM N! q. 27/ 1971
NON-DWELLING BUILDING-CONSTRUCTION
Statement by te Prime Minister Mr. John Gorton
The Treasurer and I met this morning for discussions about the growth
in the private non-dwelling building construction area which, as I indicated in my
address to the nation on 29th January last, is one of the matters we have under
examination in our attack on threatening inflationary growth.
The meeting was attended by Mr. 1. K. Campbell., Chief Executive, Hooker
Corporation Ltd., Sydney; Mr. W. M. Leavey, Managing Director, Lend Lease

~ CR PRESS: 11. No. 26/ 1971
MEETING BETWEEN THE PRIME NMflII1STER AND GENERIJL DALY
Statement bLLhe Prime Minister, Mr. john Gorton.
An article in The Australian today purported to report details of a
conversation between General Sir Thomas Daly and the Prime Minister.
Allegations in the article that General Sir Thomas Daly criticised the
Minister for Defence are untrue.
On Monday 1 March I learnt that Otories were circulating Lithe Press
Gallery alleging that serious criticisms of the Army were being made by " Defence

FOR PRESSIssued from the Office of
the Press Secretary to the
Prime Minister.
POSTPONEEPENT CF VISIT BY GENERAL NiE . IN
The Australian Government has lear.-ed wi. t. regret
of the sudden illness of General Ne Win, Chairman of the
Revolutionary Council of the Union of Burma.
His visit to Australia planned for March will now
be postponed until a later date.
CANBERRA 23 February 1971

FOR PRESS: PM io. 25/ 1971
VICTORIAN FLOODS
Stateme, t by the Prime Minister, Mr_ John Gorton
The Prime Minister announced today that he had replied to
the Victorian Premier's request for Commonwealth financial assistance
with relief and rest oration measures made necessary by the recent
floods in that State.
The Commonwealth Government, being naturally concerned
at the extent of the floods and sympathetic to those afected, has already
offered to join with the State, on a dollar for dollar basis, in financing

FOR PRESS PM. No. 24/ 1971
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS
Comment by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
There has been a swing away from the Government
in Western Australia, but the final results will not be known for some
time. Further, I am informed that it appears the Government has
definitely lost two seats and there are others in doubt. Whether or
not there is a change in Government will depend on the results in
those seats. Whatever the outcome, I think it true to say
that Sir David Brand has demonstrated himself to be an outstanding

FGR PRESS: PM i1-o. 23/ 1971
MEMCRIAL SERVICE FOR THE LATE LORD SLIM
A Memorial Service for the late Lord Slim who was Governor-
Gsneral of Australia from 1953 to 1960 is to be held at St. John's Church,
Canberra, at 12.00 noon next Wednesday ( 24th), and will be attendd by
the Governor-Ge-. eral and Lady Hasluck.
The Right Reveread K. J. Clements, Bishop of Canberra and
Goulburn will preside and the Right Reverend R. G. Arthur, Bishop
of Grafton, will preach at the Service which is to be conducted by the
R -ctor, Archdeacon F. M. Hill.

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 22/ 1971
NEW PRESS SECRETARY FOR PRU. ME MINISTER
The Federal Political Correspon'ident for the
Adelaide " Advertiser", Mr. Reg MacDo,_ nald, has been
appointed to succeed Mr. Tony Eggleton as Press Secretary
to the Prime Minister.
Mr. MacDonald has been in the Federal
Parliamentary Press Gallery since July 1970. Previously
he served in London as a member of the ' U! M'elboutne " Herald's"
European bureau and is a former columnist for the Adelaide
" Advertiser". He will join the Prime Minister's personal

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 21/ 1971
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABCRIGINES
The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton, today made
the following comment on reported remarks by the Premier of
Queensland about aborigines in that State
" The Commonwealth, and not the States, has the
paramount responsibility for aborigines, as a result of
a decision made by Australian electors at a referendum.
The MVinister for Aboriginal ANairs has been
working closely with State Governments and leaving
the administration of policies to the States. But it

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER TI-E
RT1. H. GON. OR M P. 1. IN THE
HOUEOTKrV 16 FEBRUARY 1971
ECONOMY: REDUCTIONS IN GOVERNMENT EXPE1ITlURE
I recently spoke to the nation on the state of the economy and on the likely
inflationary effects of the Arbitration Commission?' s award of a 6% 0 increase i wages
and salaries.
0 I said in order to decide what action should be taken now Cabinet had sought
to discover the areas in which demand seemed to be growing most strongly. One of