PM Transcripts

P. M. No. 48/ 1 1
EXTETSION OF THE PERIOD OF OP: ERATION OF THE
j-1 56/ f96.1 SUGAR AGREEI'MENT__
Statement by the Prm e " Minister the Rt. HonMenzies
The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, announced today that
the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government had
agreed to extend until 31st May, 1962, the period of operation of
the 1956/ 61 Sugar Agreement, which would otherwise have expired
on 31st August, 1961.
Mr. Menzies said that his Government had decided last
year that an examination of the sugar industry should be carried
out before steps were taken to enter into a new sugar agreement
with the Queensland Government when the 1956/ 61 Agreement expired.
Accordingly the Sugar Enquiry Committee, under the C. airmanship
of Mr. M. E. McCarthy, was appointed to investigate the
circumstances of the sugar and fruit industries and their
relationship. The Committee had been asked to furnish its report
if possible not later than May 1961, but owing to the wide scope
of the investigation and some unexpected difficulties the
Committee had been unable to complete its leport in the time
proposed. Mr. Menzies said that since the current Agreemennt was
due to expire on 31st August and the Committee's report was still
not available the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland
Government had decided that the existing Agrooment rould need to
be extended for the further period necessary to enable full
consideration of the report, the framing of a now formal
Agrouemnt mutually acceptable to both Governments and the
introduction of the necessary legislation.
CANBERRA,
1st September, 1961.