FOR PRESS: P. M. No 49/ 1970
CORAL SEA GUEST
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Rear-Admiral David F. Welch, Commander United States
Naval Support Force Antarctica, will come to Australia for the Coral
Sea Celebrations this year.
Admiral Welch, accompanied by Mrs. Welch, will arrive
in Australia on Wednesday, 6 May for a fourteen-day visit. He will go
to all States and Canberra, his itinerary being as follows:-
Wednesday, 6 May
Thursday, 7 May
Friday, 8 May
Saturday, 9 May
Sunday, 10 May
Monday, 11 May

E M B A R G 0: Not for publication, broadcastigor telecasting
before 9 p . Tuesdy 7 April 197
FOR PRESS: P. M. No 48/ 1970
CROWN OF THORNS STARFISH
Ministerial Statement by the Frime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Honourable Members will be aware that the Commonwealth
and Queensland have agreed to establish a joint Committee to investigate
the problem of the Crown of Thorns starfish.
The Committee will be supported on a $ 1 for $ 1 basis by
each government. It will report to each government.
On behalf of the Premier of Queensland and myself I am

FOR PRESS P. M. No 47/ 1970
COMMONWEALTH CYCLONEASSISTANCE FOR
QUEENSLAND
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Prime Minister has announced the provision of
Commonwealth assistance to the State of Queensland towards the cost
of government assets damaged as a result of cyclone " Ada".
Mr. Gorton said that it is the primary responsibility of
State Governments to meet the cost of restoring government property
damaged by natural disasters such as cyclones. However, where it is

FOR PRESS:-3 APR 197O M. No 46/ 1970
STATE FUNERAL FOR THE LATE MR. JIM FRASER
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Johni Gorton
The Government has decided that, as a special case, the
late Mr. Jim Fraser should be given a State Funeral.
Mr. Fraser has held for 19 years electorate which
is in many ways unique.
He was the only elected member of Parliamenit to vh om
people of the A. C. T. could turn for assistance and advice in local
problems of all kinds.
CANBERRA 1 April 1970

FOR PRESS: P. M. No 45/ 1970
INCREASE [ N LIMITS OF LIABILITY FOR AIRCRAFT
Statement by the E: rime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Commonwealth Government proposes to amend its,
legislation relating to compensation payable to injured passengers or the
dependants of passengers killed in domestic aircraft acciden'ts. The
proposed amendments are designed to improve the position of air
travellers, or their dependants, in this respect.
The Civil Aviation ( Carriers' Liability) Act, prescribes the

FOR PRESS: PM. NO 44/ 1970.
The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable J. G. Gorton, M. P.
issued the following statement today on the death of the
late Mr. Jim Fraser, M. P. for the A. C. T.
Jim Fraser will be missed both as a man
and as a dedicated representative of the citizens of
Canberra. Although we were politically opposed I
have always known him as a thoroughly good, decent,
and able man. He had no touch of malice or meanmindedness
anywhere about him.
I am sure that all Members of Parliament

FOR PRESS: losued from the Off ice
othe Press_ Secrty
PRIME MINISTER ANSWERS DR. J. CAIRNS
The Prime Minister, Mr. J. G. Gor-ton, to-day commented
on statements by Dr. J. Cairns in the Australian press.
The Prime Minister said
" Having called for the streets of Melbourne to be taken
over, for the traffic to be brought to a stand-still and i-or Commerce and
industry to be disrupted, Dr. Cairns has now tried to divert attention
from his irresponsible actions by making a personal attack on me.
" If this gives him any satisfaction, it causes me no

FOR PRESS P. M. No 42 / 973
DR. CAIRNS' CALL FOR DEMONCSTRATIONS
Comment by the Prime Minister, M. John Gorton
Dr. Cairns is a leading member of the Labor Party and a
member of the Executive of the Parliamentary Labor Party in Canberra.
The Victorian President of that Party recently chaired a
meeting which called on Australian Troops, fighting the Communists
in Vietnam, to mutiny.
Now Dr. Cairns, in alliance with the Communist Party, calls
for the streets of Melbourne to be taken over, for all traffic to be halted

FOR PRESS: R 70 " J9
V. N . Isued from the Office
of the Press Secretary
PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT EXPO
The Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton, will visit Japan
in May for Australia's National Day at Expo.
Mr. Gorton said today that he would be absent from Australia
for only a few days. But he was anxious to be present in Osaka on
the 8th of May for the special day of activities featuring Australia.
Our contribution to Expo had already won much favourable
comment, and he felt he should represent the Government on this

MIS
PRESS, RADIO AND TV CONFE~ RENCE GIVEN BY
THE PRIME MINISTER, MR JOHN GORTON, AT
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA, A. C. T. March 1970
PRIME MINISTER Well, gentlemen of the Press, I understand you
have a predilection for press conferences and now for the next thirty
minutes I am in your hands while we have one.
Q. David Solomon from the " Australian". In Sydney
today the Federal Treasurer described the way the economy was shaping
as sufficiently menacing to be taken very seriously. Last Thursday,