FOR PRESS P. M. No. 31/ 1967
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GAS PIPELINE FINANCING SCHEME
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
As a result of discussions that have been going on for some
time between the Commonwealth and the Government of South Australia,
followed by a decision at the Loan Council meeting today, agreement has
been reached between the Commonwealth and South Australia on a scheme
to finance the construction of a pipeline to carry natural gas from Gidgealpa
in the North-East of SQ~ th Australia to Adelaide.

PREMIERS' CONFERENCE, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1967 6// 0 ' I 9
Commonwealth-State Financial Relations
The discussion at the Premiers' Conference today
covered a wide range of matters affecting Commonwealth-State
financial relations. It was agreed that consideration of longer-term
questions would be resumed at the Premiers' Conference to
be held towards the end of the current financial year. In
the meantime, however, the Commonwealth put forward certain
proposals which were designed to provide further assistance
to the State Budgets in 1966/ 67.

67/ O? 0
FOR PRESS PM. No. 34/ 1967
COMMONWEALTH-STATE FINA NC! A L RELATIONS:
STATES' ATTITUDE
At the close of today's Premiers' Conference. the
Premier of New South Wales, Mr. Askin, made the following comment-
" Mr. Prime Minister, before we leave, I
should like to express our gratitude for what has been
approved. " I am sure we al11 appreciate the friendly
and considerate atmosphere that has been engendered by
both yourself and the Commonwealth Treasurer. This has
made our work much easier.
" The short-term solution that has been put

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 3016
VISIT BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF ISRAEL
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Government of
Israel, Mr. Abba Eban, will pay an official visit to Australia next month.
Mr. Eban will be accompanied by his wife and by Mr.
David Rivlin, Assistant Director of the British Commonwealth Division
of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Emanuel Shimoni, Director
of the Bureau of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Minister and his party arrive in Sydney on Monday,

Details of the programme prepared for his Visit to Australia, between March 1st and 10th, have now been approved by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

While a great deal of Prince Philip's time will be taken up with meetings associated with the Duke of Edinburgh's Third Commonwealth Study Conference, to be held in Australia in 1968, he has several other engagements of a public and official kind and will visit some of the fire disaster areas in Tasmania.

EMBARGOED: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE MIDNIGHT 14/ 12/ 67
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 27/ 1967
BRITISH GIFT TO CANBERRA
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Halt
The British Government's gift to Canberra to mark the
capital's Golden jubilee will be a carilon on Aspen Island in Lake Burley
Griffin. An announcement to this effect is also being made in the House of
Commons by the Prime Minister of Britain.
In 1963, the then Prime Minister of Britain advised the
Australian Government that the British Government would make a gift to

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 26/ 1967
ECONOMIC CONSULTATIONS
The Prime Minister with his other Ministers had
discussions this morning on the economic situation with representatives of
a group of national organisations representing industry and commerce.
Representatives who attended the meeting were
Mr. F. R. Curtis
Mr. F. G. May
Mr. F. J. McAvoy
Mr. J. P. Heffernan
Mr. T. B. C. Walker President, Associated Chambers of Manufactures
of Australia
Pres ident,
Associated Chambers of Commerce
of Australia

61/ 0" 0
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 25/ 1967
REACTION TO TSMANIAN BUSHFIRES
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The loss and suffering from the bushfires in Tasmania has
produced a spontaneous sympathetic and helpful response in many parts
of the world. Messages and gifts continued to arrive during the weekend.
The gift of $ 50, 000 from the British Government was a
warm-hearted and generous donation. In addition, there have been so
many enquiries . from people in London wanting to make private donations

67/ O? 9
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 24/ 1967
TASMANIAN BLJSHFIRES MESSAGES FROM
OVERSEAS
The following messages have been received from the
Prime Ministerof Canada, Mr. Lester Pearson and the Prime Minister
of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, expressing sympathy to the victims
of the Tasmanian bushfires
From Mr. Lester B. Pearson
" Canadians have been shocked by news of the appalling
loss of life and homes by fires in Tasmania. We of fer our deepest
sympathy to Australians and especially to those in Tasmania
most affected by this disaster."

67/ 006
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 22/ 1967
PRIME MINISTER'S MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIAN
BALLET COMPANY
The Prime Minister, Mr. Holt, today sent the
following message to Miss P. van Praagh, the Artistic Director
of the Australian Ballet Company
" On the eve of the departure of the Australian
Ballet for its overseas tour covering New Zealand, Honolulu,
Vancouver, Montreal ( Expo 67), South America and
Mexico City, would you convey to the Company the good
wishes of the Commonwealth Government and myself for
a happy and successful tour.