66/ 133
FOR PRESS P. No. 87/ 1966
DEATH OF DR. VERWOERD
Statement by the Acting Prime Minister, the Rt, Hon,
J. Mchwen
Mr. McEwen said that he had been greatly shocked
to learn of the assassination of Dr. Verwoerd. He had today
sent messages to South Africa's Acting Prime Minister, Dr.
Donges, and to Mrs. Verwoerd expressing profound sympathy and
regret over this tragic event.
The Government had not been able to agree with
some of the policies adopted by the South African Government,

66/ 13;
FOR PRESS PM. No. 86/ 1966
DEATH OF DR. VERWOERD
Comment by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
W'hatever political views one holds, the
assassination of a national leader is repugnant.
It calls for general condemnation.
I express my sympathy for the sorrowing family
in their sadness.
LONDON, 6th September, 1966 i

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
MR HECLD HOLT IN NEW YORK 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1966
President de Gaulle's Statement on Viet Nam
President De Gaulle is reported as saying in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia that the United S ates must agree to a timetable for the
withdrawal of its forces from Vietnam before a negotiated settlement
of the war is possible.
The disturbing feature of this statement is that the French
President seems to demand that firm commitments be made for the
withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam before even the opening of

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 85/ 1966
ASSISTANCE TO SUGAR INDUSTRY
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The Premier of Queensland has made strong representations
to me concerning the difficult situation facing the sugar
industry in Queensland and New South Wales.
Primarily this has come about through the catastrophic
fall in the world free market price for sugar. This has
happened at a time when the large expansion programme undertaken
by the industry some years ago is coming to fruition in a big
increase in sugar production.

UNTIL 5 PM. SUNDAY. 28TH AUGUST. 1966
FOR PRESS P. M. No. 84/ 1966
FUTURE OF ST0' VY MOUITAINS AUTHORITY
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt
The Commonwealth Jovernment has been giving a
good deal of attention to the question of the future of the
Snowy Mountains Authority. The major work in the Snowy Mountains
area will be completed on present estimates by about 1972, and
the Government hopes it will be found possible for a continuing
use to be made of some of the specialised skills which the

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 83/ 1966
PRIME MINISTERS' CONFERENCE
The Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt, will leave
Australia next week to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers'
Conference in London.
The conference begins on the 6th September and will
continue until the
Mr. Holt will travel to Britain via New York and
is due in London on Friday, 2nd September. He expects to be
away from Australia for no more than three weeks during which
the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. John McEwen, will be acting

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt. Hon. HAROLD HOLT, M. P.,
ON
APPROPlUATION BILL ( No. 1) 1966-67
SECOND READING
( BUDGET DEBATE)
( From the " Parliamentary Debates," 25th August 1966]
Mr. HAROLD HOLT ( Higgins-Prime
Minister) [ 9. O].-The House gave the
Leader of the Opposition ( Mr. Caiwell),
under our Standing Orders, unlimited time
to deal with the Budget. He seized the
occasion to make it a workout for his
election campaign. Indeed, in the latter
portion of his speech he cast aside all

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
THE RT. HON. HAROLD HOLT, IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE
24TH AUGUST, 19 6
NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Government has decided that an investigation will
be commenced this year into the feasibility of establishing
Naval support facilities for the R. A. N. at Cockburn Sound, near
Fremantle. The Royal Australian Navy has indicated the
desirability of such a facility in the short and long term.
It has been decided that before any firm decision

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 82/ 1966
U. S. PRESIDENT'S TRIBUTE
The Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Hnlt, today
released the text of a message he has received from
President Johnson. The message reads
" The courage of Australian men and the
skill of Australian arms have once again been
demonstrated on the field of battle.
Yesterday's engagement evokes the
admiration of all who treasure bravery arnd
the gratitude of all who prize the just cause
for which we fight in Vie tNam.
We mourn with you those brave men who

65/ 12-4
F'OR PRESS: P. M. No. 81/ 1966
PRIME MINISTER SEES VICTORIAN PREMIER
The Prime Minister Mr Holt Lhad a thirty-minute
discussion with the Premier of l'ictoria, ir Henry Bolte, in
Melbourne this morning.
During the meeting, which was held at the Prime
Minister's Office, Sir Henry gave Mr. Holt a survey of
Victoria's financial difficulties.
The talks were a result of a re qxest for a
meeting , made by the then Acting Premier, Mr. Rylah on the
Preiers behalf while Sir Henry was overseas. STir Henry