Royal Commonwealth Society Australian Capital Territory Branch.

INAUGURAL DINNER HOTEL CANBERRA WEDNESDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY 1959.

THE PRESIDENT Sir William DUNK, C.B.E in the Chair

SIR WILLIAM DUNK: 

Parliamentary salaries and allowances.

The Government has decided to set up an independent Committee of Inquiry to report on the salaries and allowances paid to Senators and Members of the Commonwealth Parliament and also to report generally on related matters.

FOR PRESS:

Interchange of New Year Messages

The following messages were exchanged between His Excellency Mr. N. Khrushchev and the Prime Minister, Mr. R.G. Menzies, over the New Year period :-

"HIS EXCELLENCY
MR. ROBERT GORDON MENZIES
PRIME MINIST-R OF THE COMMONTEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

Commonwealth and State Directors of the tour of Australia later this year of Her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandra of Kent met in Canberra to-day.

They discussed factors to be considered in the formulation of a consolidated programme for the tour. A broad outline programme will now be prepared and submitted to Her Royal Highness in London before she leaves to visit Latin America next month.

"On behalf of myself, the Australian Government and the people of Australia, I extend to you warm congratulations on your election to the high office of President of France and send good wishes for the future.

I am certain that under your leadership, the cordial relations which have existed between our two countries for many years fostered by the comradeship of our soldiers in war will be maintained and strengthened."

CANBERRA, A.C.T.
8th January, 1959.

"THE AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES"

It gives me both official and personal pleasure to present to the House the valuable report on the Australian Universities made by what I will refer to as the Murray Committee.

Last year, when in England, I approached Sir Keith Murray and asked him whether he would preside over an investigation of the problems of our universities. He agreed to do this, subject to the approval of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Great Britain, an approval which was willingly given.

The Committee appointed was very well balanced.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
4TH APRIL, 1957.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RIGHT HONORABLE R. G. MENZIES,
TABLED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON 4th APRIL, 1957.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE R. G. MENZIES, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, AND PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC FEDERATION.

By the choice of those who have organised this programme, I am the first speaker. In reality I ought to be last. For the other two speakers are His Excellency the Governor of Victoria and Mr. Avery Brundidge, the President of the International Olympic Committee.

The SITUATION in EGYPT
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
AT 8PM THURSDAY, 1st NOVEMBER, 1956.

THE SITUATION IN EGYPT

The facts in relation to the Middle East are not as yet completely clear though events are obviously developing very rapidly.

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TUESDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER, 1956,
SUEZ CANAL

It is essential, if we are to form valid judgments on the Suez Canal issue, to begin by getting our facts right. I therefore propose to begin with the facts.

The Suez Canal was not built by Egypt. It was, as have said elsewhere, "the product of the bold vision and engineering genius of a Frenchman, de Lesseps, and the financial resources of a Company whose shareholding was international".