VISIT TO THE U. K. 1969
PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
MR. JOHN GORTON, ON PROPOSED FIVE-POWER TALKS.
14 JANUARY 1969
The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. John Gorton, said
today that he had arranged for a meeting on Friday with Mr. Healey,
Mr. Holyoake, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Tunku Abdul Rahman.
They would discuss the place anddate for the next Five
Power meeting to be held later this year. Friday's meeting, which will
be held at the Australian Prime Minister's suite at the Savoy Hotel, is
not expected to last more than 30 minutes.

VISIT TO THE U. K. 1969
EXTRACTS FROM SPEECH MADE BY THE PRIME
MINISTER, MR. JOHN GORTON, TO THE
COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS' CONFERENCE
13 JANUARY 1969
Australia attaches great importance to the work of
UNCTAD and we think it is bringing about a greater awareness of the
problems of developing countries. Although there was, I know, a
widespread feeling of disappointment among the developing countries
that the concrete results from the second UNCTAD conference last year
were not greater, resolutions on tariff preferences, commodity problems,

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 2/ 1969
VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister, Mr. John McEwen
I was most distressed to hear of the shocking bushfires
which have today occurred in Victoria.
I am sure that all Australians will join with me and
the Commonwealth Government in expressing their deepest sympathy
to the relatives of those people who have lost their lives in the fires.
Our sympathy also goes out to those who have been injured and who
have lost homes and material possessions as a result of the disaster.

PRIME MINISTER'S
REMARKS TO PRESS ON DEPARTURE FOR LONDON
MASCOT AIRPORT, SYDNEY JANUARY 1969
PRIME MINISTER: Well, gentlemen, I don't think I have any statements
to make to you. As you know, I am going over to a Commonwealth
Prime Ministers' Conference. The last one was held, I think, two
years ago. No doubt, you have got some questions you would like to
ask me, and if I can, I will try and answer them. So fire ahead.
Q. Will you be putting forward any proposals for a Singapore-based
mobile defence force in either formal or informal discussions with

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 3/ 1969
OVERSEAS TAKEOVERS CF AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES
joint Statement by the Prime Minister and the Treasurer
In a discussion we had with Mr. C. T. Looker, President
of the Australian Associated Stock Exchanges, on 5 December last, we
informed him of the view held by the Government that the shareholders
of an Australian company should have a right to amend its Articles of
Association for the purpose of ensuring that control of the company,
exercised through the voting powers of the shareholders, remains in

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 211969
AUSTRALIAN FORCES IN MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
On 19 November, I announced in Parliament that Australia
had decided in principle to maintain forces in Malaysia and Singapore
until the end of 1971,
Since then technical consideration of the detailed
implementation of this " in principle" decision has continued. This
having been concluded, Australia and New Zealand have now indicated
to Malaysia and Singapore their firm willingness to maintain Naval, Air

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 1,/ 1969
NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON
The Prime Minister, Mr john Gorton, has received
the following New Year message from President johnson
" Dear Mr Prime Minister
Your first year in office has been a year of
fruitful collaboration between us. I have en joyed our.
association, and your visit to this country last May will long
be remembered. I am confident that under your leadership
Australia will continue to work out its destiny as one of the
great free nations of Asia and the Pacific, as that arena

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 1-33/ 1968
NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE NATION
From the Prime Minister, Mr. JohnGorton
This is the first time I have had the privilege, as Prime
Minister# of wishing you all a happy, prosperous and successful New.
Year. This the last year of the sixties can be all these things for us,
but at the same time, it will be a " crossroads" year for Australia.
Our environment, our resources, out~ high standards of
living and our many other advantages can give us the good things of life;

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 104/ 1968
PREMIERS' CONFERENCE
Following is the text of letters exchanged by the Premier
of New South Wales ( Mr. Askin) and the Prime Minister:-
Mr. Askin's Letter ( dated 19 December)
Dear Mr. Gorton, The State Premiers met yesterday in Adelaide
to consider further the matters which they discussed in Sydney
in October last and which have since been the subject of
correspondence between us.
With regard to the impact of recent wage changes
on State finances, you did suggest that our Treasury officers

EMBARGO: NOT TO BE CABLED, BROADCAST OR. TE-LECAST
BEFORE 7.903 P. M. E. S. T. MONDAY 30 DECEMBER 1968
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 102/ 1968
VISIT7 BY THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKE
AND DUCHESS OF KENT
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Prime Minister announced in Canberra this evening
that the following statement had been issued from the Buckinghamshire
residence of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Kent:-
" It was announced from Coppins that The
Duke and Duchess of Kent have accepted with very much