FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 61/ 1969
MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT ABOARD U. S. S. HORNET
The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton tonight sent
the following message to President Nixon on board U. S. S. Hornet:-
" I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT
THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA SHARE YOUR JOY AND
YOUR PRIDE IN WELCOMING BACK NEIL ARMSTRONG,
EDWIN ALDRIN AND MICHAEL COLLINS.
" AUSTRALIA FOLLOWED EVERY STAGE
OF THEIR EPIC JOURNEY WITH ADMIRATION AND
BATED BREATH: " I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PASSING
ON CUR CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES, AND

The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton, visited Honeysuckle Creek early this morning to watch the Tracking Station making its final preparations to take over a key phase of communications with the Apollo astronauts.

FOR PRESS: CL 24 JUL 69
P. M. No. 59/ 1969
EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF OPERATION OF THE
1962 COMMONWEALTH/ QUEENSLAND SUGAR AGREEMENT
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments
have agreed to extend until 31 August 1969 the period of operation
of the 1962 Commonwealth/ Queensland Sugar Agreement which
would otherwise have expired on 30 June 1969.
The Sugar Agreement provides for the regulation
of the Australian sugar industry and the marketing of sugar in

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 58/ 1969

PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE FOR THE MOON

The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton, has been invited by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency to send a message to the moon with the astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission.

Microfilmed messages from a number of world leaders are to be sealed in a capsule and left on the moon's surface.

Mr. Gorton's message reads:-

FOR PRESS: R A R(
P. M. No. 57/ 1969
PROPOSED ROAD CONNECTION BETWEEN
CANBERRA AND TUMLJT
The Prime Minister, Mr. Gorton, and the New South
Wales Chief Secretary, Mr. Willis, today announced that the
Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments have agreed
that the future direct road connection between Canberra and Tumut
should follow a route via Wee jasper.
The two Governments are in agreement that although
there will be an ultimate need for a better road connection between

L I
FOR PRESS: K j~ P. M. No. 56/ 1969
PRESIDENT THIEUS STATEMENT ON FREE ELECTIONS
IN VIETNAM
Comment by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The statement which President Nguyen Van Thieu
has made today is a most important one. It demonstrates
strikingly his willingness to do his part in clearing the way for
a political solution that will end the fighting and at the same time
let the people of South Vietnam determine their own future.
President Thieu has indicated that in free elections,

PRESS STATEMENT MOTOR VEHIICLE AIR POLLUTION JOJU
( Statement by Ministers)
State and Commonwealth Transport Ministers meeting in
Port Moresby as the Australian Transport Advisory Council today
( July 10) discussed the establishment of' standards to control
motor vehicle exhaust pollution in Australia,
The Council directed its Standing Committee of Advisers
to discuss with the automotive and petroleum industries the
introduction of' U. S. standards on exhaust emissions. The
Committee hopes to arrange a meeting with industry early in

PRESS STATEMENT TRANSPORT OF DRUGS OF DEPENDENCE AND RECIPROCITYK
OF THIRD PARTY INSURANCE
( Statement by the Ministers)
An urgent investigation will be held into the
security of drugs of dependence during transport and storage.
State and Commonwealth Transport Ministers decided
this today ( July 10) at a meeting of the Australian Transport
Advisory Council in Port Moresby.
The move followed instances of large quantities
of addictive drugs being stolen or lost in transit in various
parts of Australia. This has caused serious concern among health

PRESS STATEMENT 30 JUL
MECHANICAL INSPECTTION OF LONG-DISTANCE BUSES
( Statement by the Ministers)
Minimum safety inspection standards will be drawn up
for long-distance tourist buses operating throughout Australia.
This was decided today ( July 10) by Commonwealth and
State Transport Ministers meeting in Port Moresby as the
Australian Transport Advisory Council.
The Ministers have asked the Advisory Committee on
Vehicle Performance to prepare the standards together with a
time scale for their introduction.

PRESS STATEMENT AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
PORT MORESBY, 9 AND 10 JULY 1970 3JUL 1970
( Joint Statement by the Ministers) / D n
The Australian Transport Advisory Council considered
a number of matters concerning railway transportation at their
meeting in Port Moresby.
Among these was an improved procedure for making
bookings for interstate railway journeys recommended by the
Victorian Minister, Mr Wilcox.
Railway Commissioners have been requested to discuss
these procedures with a view to the use of a computer system.