FOR PRESS P. M. Io. 14/ 1966 Tribute to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa 

Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies

I have sent the following message today to the Australian High Commissioner in Nigeria :-

" I had a very warm regard for Sir Abubakar as a man whose company I always enjoyed at conferences of Prime Ministers. I also had a great respect for him as a leader clear minded, sagacious, tolerant and just.

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 13/ 1966 State Funeral for the late Senator Sir Shane Paltridge - Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies

A State Funeral will be accorded the late Senator Sir Shane Paltridge, former Minister for Defence.

A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Columba's Church, Forrest Street, South Perth at 10 a. m. on Tuesday, January, after which the cortege will leave for Karrakatta cemetery, where interment will take place. Flags will be flown at half-mast on Commonwealth buildings throughout Australia on the day of the funeral.

FOR PRESS P.M.  No. 12/1966

The death of Sir Shane Paltridge is a great blow to the Government, Parliament, and people. It is a deep sorrow for me, for he honoured me with a close personal friendship, and by his character and achievements, together with his unsurpassed integrity, inspired in me a very real affection for him. He has left behind him an honoured name.

SIR ROBERT : Would it be agreeable to you if' I began by a short narrative, not very long, but a little narrative of' the day's events, because this morning I told both Government parties that I was proposing to retire and I told them the reasons in terms with which you are now familiar, and then this afternoon, Mr. Holt having been elected to be the Leader of' the Liberal Party, and Mr. McMahon the Deputy Leader, I went to Government House and told the Governor-General that I was resigning.

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 11/1966

I have given careful thought to my future in the light of what seems best for the Government and the country. In the result, I have decided to resign from the Prime Ministership forthwith.

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 10/ 1966

With the consent of His Excellency the Governor-General, I announce that Senator Sir Shane Paltridge, Minister for Defence, has tendered his resignation as Minister and as Leader of the Government in the Senate.
As is well-known, Sir Shane has been very seriously ill for some time. His medical advisers concur in the decision which he has now made. 

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 9/ 1966
BUST OF SIR Y; INSTON CHURCHILL
Statement by the Prime Minister. Sir Robert Menries
A bust of the late Right Honourable Sir 77inston
Churchill is to be displayed at Parliament House in Canberra
as a tribute to the great British statesman.
The Australian Government commissioned the work
from Oscar Nemon, the noted sculptor.
The bust, which is in bronze and slightly larger
than life size has been completed and it is hoped that it
will soon stana in King's Hall at Parliament House.

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 8/ 1966
FLAGS AT HALF MAST FOR INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Mciuzies
The Prime Minister announced today that flags
will be flown at half mast all day tomorrow, Uednesday, 12th
January, on all Commonwealth buildings throughout Australia
as a tribute to the late Prime Minister of India, Shri Tal
Bahadur Shastri.
CANBERRA, 11th January, 1966.

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 7/ 1966
DEATH OF THE PRIE, MINISTER OF INDIA
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
I have learned with shock and deep regret of the
death today of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the Prime Minister of
India. He took office at a testing time, having to succeed
the late Jawaharlal Nehru who had been Prime Minister for a
long while and had made a particular place for himself in
Indian and international affairs. Lal Bahadur Shastri
established himself as a leader in his own right, and in his

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 6/ 1966
COMMISSIONER-GENERAL FOR CANADIAN EXPOSITION
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
Air Marshal Sir Valston Hancock, C. B.,
will succeed the late Vice Admiral Sir Hastings
Harrington as Australian Commissioner-General for the Canadian
International Exposition ( Expo 67).
Sir Valston, who retired as Chief of the Air
Staff in May of last year, will be in charge of the special
arrangements for Australia's participation in the exhibition,
to be held in Montreal in 1967.