PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BZ THE PRIMI: 4 MINISTER, RiT. HON. R. G. MENZIES.
C. HQ.. TCNER ON THURSDAY. 12TH MARCH. l9) 5. AT
Up. m.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Under-Secretaries, sir, have you made a decision
on their future? You said in the Cabinet statement
you would be considering this.
No, not yet. I have been having some discussions
on it in the last two days.
There is a suggestion, sir, that you might have
been considering them going on to the Executive
Council. Would that be possible, sir?
I have no idea. No, I have nothing to say about
that yet.
Can you te2.1 us, sir, if there is any legislation
pending we haven't heard about. I mean in this
session, not these sittings?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know what ones have been announced,
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Sir, what has happened about the proposal to bring
in legislation on union fees, or rather union
charges for the political parties. I think
before the elections there was some discussion that
you may bring a Bill to prevent the victimnisation
of people who refused to pay.
Yes, I remember there was some discussion about that
at the tail end of the last session the last
Parliament but I have not seen anything on it of
late. That is not to say that the Minister for
Labour is not going into it.
Has the Government made a final decision not to
proceed with the F104+ in any form for the R. A. A. F.?
That's the star fighter. We rejected that one a
long time ago.
That's finally rejected?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: What about the 105 millimetre Lowitzer?
Not that I know of. I think you had better ask the
Minister for Defence that.
Sir, at the opening of Parliament, Sir William Slim
made some reference to Australia wanting to have
closer trade links with Asia. Much the same thing
has been said by Mr. Casey at the E. C. A. F. E.
Conference. Do we take that as being a deliberate
policy by Australia to try and strengthen her
ties with Asia?
Look, I'm not up with the discussions at E. C. A. F. E.
I don't know about them yet and I would want to
have a talk with Mr. Casey about that before I said
anything on that point.
His thinking was along the same lines as Sir
Williama Slim in his policy speech by saying that
we wanted closer trade links.
Yes; but if you want some particulars on that, I
am not able to give them to you. a
11 0 1
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
COMMENT: It wasn't so much particulars, sir as to whether
it was a sort of a general policy that we are now
trying to establish ourselves as leaders or
Western leaders in Asia tbarough trade and various
other things.
I think that's a very large inference. I think
you ought to talk to the Minister for Trade as to
vrhat the possibilities are, because I sometimes
hear rather exaggerated estimates of them; but
he's the expert on that. You ask him.
Sir, in view of Mr. Casey's talks today with
Mr. Firubin, can you tell us what advantages there
will be for Australia in a physical resumption of
diplomatic relations with Russia?
No is Mr. Casey having talks with Mr. Firubin
today? It has been reported so.
PRIME MINISTER: I didn't even know that.
COMMENT I think Mr. Firubin announced it, sir.
PRIME MINISTER: Did he?
COMMENT: Ye s.
PRIME MINISTER: Oh well, no doubt it's true.
COMMENT: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: And reporting to Cabinet.
Well, we've heard nothing about that. I ari not
going to engage in a discussion of the pluses or
minuses of something until it is something which
calls for decision.
Is it true that the International Bank has rejected
the idea of a dollar loan for the Mt. Isa-Townsville
railway be. cause Mt. Isa Mines wouldn't guarantee
sufficient tonnage on the line?
The whole nub of the argument there has been
whether an effective freight contract can be made
between the Queensland Government and the coinpany.
So far, the result hasn't been entirely satisfactory;
but I know that discussions are still going on, but
they primarily concern the Queensland Government
and the company, and it is not for mie to say what
the point of view of the International Bank is.
But I know that on its past practice, it would want
to see an effective freight contract, so that the
amount of any loan could be armortised within the
appropriate time.
Does the Commonwealth come into it at all, sir?
PRIME MINISTER: We come in as the borrower.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER-.
QUESTION: Has the Bank rejected the request?
Don't ask me to make announcements on behalf of
the Bank; I'm one of their customers.
Has the Commonwealth Treasircx, sir, had discussions
with the company on any tax concessions that m~ ight
help to get that kind of a contract you are
speaking about?
91. 1 0 1
PRIM'-E MINISTER: Look, I know that the company has from time to
time raised tax problems, but really, you ought to
ask the Treasurer about that, I think. I mean I
do' know what developments there are in that
field.
QUESTION: Does the Commonwealth have to give any guarantee,
sir, along these lines?
PRIME MINISTER: If the Conmmonwealth borrows money from the
International Bank, it is the borrower and it is
completely responsible. The Commonwealth then
proceeds to lend the rioncy, and in that case, suppose
and it's only a suppose suppose there
were an International Bank loan for the Mt. Isa
railway project, then we would be the borrowers
and we would advance the money to the Queensland
Government; and in order to enable us to pay off
our debt and interest to the World Bank, the
Queensland Government would enter into corresponding
arrangements with us, and their capacity for doing
that is quite plainly affected by the nature of
, ihatever freight contract they make with the
company. So it is a three-cornered affair. But the
prime matter for discussion is one between the
Queensland Government and the company. We have
exhibited great willingness to do our part with the
WJorld Bank and we hava had, of course, a number of
discussions withi them. But whether there is a
World Bank loan or not depends on many things:
first and foremost, it depends on the decision taken
some day by the board of the World Bank; nobody
can anticipate that. But the basic material that
would be needed before you made a formal applicatia
for the loan would be some arrangement on freig ; hts
between the Queensland Government and the company,
of a kind which we thought, at any rate, fitted
into the pattern of the lending policies of the World
Bank,
QUESTION: Sir, on the question of overseas investment, I
think Mr. Foley of the British Tobacco Company
made a statement recently saying that he was
becoming rather worried about the overseas companies
gradually taking over a vast number of Australian
companies. Mr. McEwen has made a suggestion that
it might be a good idea for every overseas investor
to enter into partnership with Australian investors,
Is that something that you
PRIME MINISTER: I think that it is first of all, we welcome
overseas investment. The general Australian
opinion does, because we can't generate inside
Australia from our own resources P11 the capital
that is needed for these developmental projects,
~ hether they are public or private. think
th4at it is eminently desirable that wher-ever it is
po6ssible overseas investors should establish some
kind of partnership with Australian citizens
which means that wherever possible, they should
admait Australian investors to the equity capital
of the enterprise. We haven't laid down any rule
about that. First of all, probably because we
couldn't and secondly because circumastances differ
in every case. But whenever overseas people see
me or see my colleagues on this matter of investment
we never fail to draw their attention to the
fact that we think it desirable that they should
have some Australian proprietary interest in
whatever it is.
QUESTION: Sir, do you see any indication of thoso overseas
investors coming more and imore to that point of
view?
PRIME MINISTER: I th-ink I have of late yes.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: General Motors Holden, sir?
I can't say that, because we know what their share
structure is. But I think the last half dozen
people of consequence in this matter who have come
to see me just to have a general talk about policy
have fully understood that point I'll say it
that way.
Sir, will there be a Commonwealth Prime Ministers'
Conference in London this year, and if there is--
Well, I think not; but that will be for Mr.
MacMillan to decide. Frankly, I don't expect that
there will be one. They've got all these
preoccupations at the present time, and the Queen
goes to Canada in June for a couple of months over
the St. Lawrence waterway. Later on in the year
wetve got a visit by Princess Alexandra. No; it's
only my guess, but I think it's about right.
Do you propose making an overseas trip yourself?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm hoping to yes.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Can you tell when you propose to make the visit?
No I haven't arranged it yet, but I'm hoping to.
I Lhink I should this year.
It is tho first time since 1957, isn't it?
Yas. Pay a brief visit at any rate, to America
and Great Britain in particular, probably going
through the one to the other.
Corning back through the Far East, sir?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know yet.
QUESTION: What time of the year?
PRIME MINISTER: I'n11 hoping to do this in May-June.
QUESTION: Sir, in relation to your recent invitation from
Dr. Subandrio has that been confirmed at all by
an official invitation froma President Soekarno.
PRIME MINISTER: No. I've heard no more.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: You wouldn't contemplate going under the present
conditions? No, I would expect an invitation from the head of
the Government, yes. I've heard nothing more
about that.
Can you give us any idea of the reasons why you
want to go to America and Great Britain? Is there
any particular subject you want to discuss?
No. I think that the Prime Minister of Australia
ought to be in direct personal touch with these
people at reasonable intervals of time. It is
very important.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: On the general subject matter foreign affairs,
economics I want to if I go I want to have some direct
intimate informal discussions about, no doubt, all
the current matters as little program as possible.
East Berlin in particular?
Dontt ask me to say what the subjects are. Our
experience of life is that all the subjocts that
are current today are non-current in two months'
time who knows. Whatever is a lively issue,
I would hope to discuss.
How long will you be away for?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh, I don't ! now yet.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Sir, would the rocent successes that the Government
has been having with its internal loans lead you to
expect that the overall cash deficit would be abou'k
less than half what you anticipated last budget
t i02
I think it is very early to say that, but it will
be substantially less, because the cash
responsibilities on the loan program will quite
plainly be lower and so there will be a reduced
deficit. As a matter of fact, I noticed that when
the Treasurer said the other day that he anticipateC
there would be another deficit next year that's
quite right; there must be somebody read into
that an inference about taxes, but it has got
nothing to do with that. I mean all other things
being equal, I would anticipate that there would be~
a cash deficit next year, for reasons sim11ilar to
the ones that produced it this year.
To a large extent, that would rule out any major
tax concessions?
Don't ask me that. W~ e won't begin to consider that
until we are alpproaching the budget. And when we
begin to approach the budget, you boys will all
publish the mñ ost authoritative stories as to what
is going to be in it, won't you? ( Laughter).
Is there anything you can say, sir, about the
Governor-Generalship on the departure of Sir
William Slim and the appointment of a new one?
No. We have a rather loose arrangement on that.
I would think well, he won't go before Princess
Alexandra has gone. I suppose that rmeans somewVhere
about the end of the year. But we have got no
hard and fast date in our rainds.
Can we assumae that this will be one of the subject!,
you will discuss when you are in Britain?
PRIME MINISTER: You could, yes.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: Sir as you will be away in May and June, does
thai maean we will havc a late budget, or what, or
will you discuss the budget before you go?
No; we never begin to discuss the budget until
July.
COMENT: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: I thought there was always a preliminary discussion
before the Premiers' Conference and Loan Council.
The general state of affairs well, we've had that
and therc will probably be another one before the
next Premiers' Conference. We have to consider the
problem of tax reimbursement, for example, and the
overall state of the loan program. Yes, we discuss
those things, and they have an effect on the
budget. But we don't actually get to the problem
of budgetting until after we have got rid of those
things.
Sir, have you made any definite arrangements as yet
about the appointment of an independent committee
to review the tax laws?
Yes; it has been under discussion between Ministers
and the Treasury. We have been working out the
terms of reference. It is quite alive. I would
hope to have something announced on that any moment
in the next week or two; certainly quite soon.
Mr. Menzies, is there any indication of when Sir
Garfeild Barwick will be in a position to put
submissions on constitutional changes to the
Cabinet? Is it likely this year or early next year?
I don't know. The first thing is to re-establish
the committee. I think that will probably be done
in the next week.
Under his chairmanship?
Well, that is one of the problems we have to
consider, as to whether he can put in time on it.
When we clear that up, we will * et the committee
re-established, and they will go on with their
-vork. They have made an interim report. We
haven't considered the interim report. I don't
know whether he has or whether he thinks that
within some limited time he can make suggestions
to us. But I haven't discussed that.
I understand, sir, that Sir Frank Richardson has
either delivered his report to you or is about to
do so.
They tell me that he is delivering it quite soon.
It hasn't yet been delivered.
Sir there is no hard and fast view as to whether
youll wait until the new coimAittee has completed
a further report before Cabinet considers the
interim reDort of the coimittee?
PRIME MINISTER: No, there's no hard and fast rule.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: Sir, on that report, do any recormmendations apply
from July 1, or will they
My dear boy, I haven't a clue as to what the
re commendations are.
Any of them?
I haven't a clue what they are. How can I start
discussing problems of retrospectivity. For all
I know, the reco-+ nendations are all negative.
COMMENT: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION:
PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: I meant July 1 this year.
I an not going to anticipate any of those things.
I will read this report first when I get it.
Did you read, sir, that the Scotch were burning
your immigration literature?
I saw that. I concluded it must have been a cold
winter. ( Laughter).
Mr. Menzies, there was an earlier question on
possible legislation arising from the union
political levies. Isn't the position that the
Government is waiting for a High Court decision
for the Burbury decision?
I think you are right. I think that does have a
bearing on it. But really I haven't given any
thought to that matter myself lately, but now you
mention it, the decision of the Court probably will
throw a good deal of light on this thing. That is
quite right. I don't know whether the Attorner
has been looking at this.
Sir, have you been asked to represent Australia at
the Ii7, perial Cricket Conference at Lords in June?
PRIME MINISTER: No, sir. Oh no, there's some limit. ( Laughter).
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Sir is it proposed to introduce in the current
sittings a Bill to authorise the secondf2 million
grant for development of the north-west?
Well, I hope so. There are always a few technical
matters that have to be thrashed out on that and
that may affect the dat_ of introduction. It won't
affect the date of operation of the second
million, because you remember that I said that
we had agreed to find over a certain period of five
years œ 29 million and that we would double that.
Well, the œ 5 million covers the same period.
So that unless the State gets on with the job in
a hurry, they run the risk of losing portion of
the œ 5 million?
I don't know, but the original million was
offered in relation to projects which were put
forward by the States by Western Australia I
mean and in a general way approved by us.
Certain ones were put forward and approved and they
are understood to be in hand. Subsequently to
that, the Premier has put up a proposal in relatior
to the Ord River, and it is not quite clear yet as
to whether this is designed to be part of the
million, or whether it is a separate project
which he is asking for to be additional. The last
I heard of that was that we had asked him for
further information.
I understood, sir, that in the House the other day
you gave the impression that the Premier had
now told you that most, if not all, of the
million would be spend on the projects already
approved by the Cormm1onwealth.
PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUJESTION: I don't think I said that. But having regard to
the nature of' the projects, I wouldn't be surprised
if they needed all the money, because they are
quite substantial. I mean, our U23-million was
really designed to help on that matter and I would
think that these projects might easily absorb the
whole sum; in which case, this Ord River proposal
would be something additional; but at present I
have asked to have that cleared up and until it is
cleared up, it may be a little difficult to
appropriate the œ C5 million for certain purposes
with that matter still vague. And that may give
rise to a little delay in introducing the
legislation, but it won't give rise to any delay
in our acceptance of our own responsibility from
July, 1958, for five years, or the increased stun.
Would it be a reasonable assumption, sir, that the
second additional grant from the Commonwealth might
only result in a saving for the State Treasury,
the way the State intends to handle the scheme?
Well, I suppose that's up to the State. We intended
it to be of assistance in the development of' the
north-west. But in all -these matters, one is very
much in the hands of a State Government within
whose area the particular things come.
Mr. Menzies, are you going to appear on the platform
with Mr. Morton for the elections in New South
Wales? I don't Imow who's going to be there. I axi making
a speech they tell me tomorrow night in North
Sydney. I will go down and I will make a short
speech and come home.
Are you going to underwrite his promises?
PRIME MINISTER: I'm not an underwriter. ( Laughter).
QUESTION: Will this be your only appearance in the campaign?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes.
QUESTION: Are you also going to the iiest, sir?
PRIMVE MINISTER: No.
QUESTION:
PRIME MINISTER:
COMMENT: PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Menzies, is it true that the Snowy Mountains
Authority is spending ahead of its 1958/ 59
allocation, and that -the Government has agreed to
give it a supplementary grant until the and of the
year to enable it to keep its work ahead of
schedule. I roally think you ought to got that frorm Senator
Spooner. Don't you think so? He's been handling
that. I know about it mayself, but I'd very much
prefer--Ijust thought you r. night be able to give us some
details. I'd much prefer him to deal with it. I'll just
say one thing about it: Yes, they have been ahead
of their scheduled expenditure and at least one
reason is a very satisfactory one and that is that
the contractors have got on with the job so fast
that really they have almost begun. to run out of
" chips"
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: It involves bonus payments to a great extent,
doesn't it?
Well I don't know how it's been done, but I know
the Lthority is delighted with the efficiency,
not only of the American contractors but of the
Australian contractor, and of course I've got a
rather favourable eye on expedition of this matter,
because the sooner any stage is finished, the
sooner it becor,-, cs revenue-producing. There has been
a financial problem about it, but we thrashed that
one out and I think I wouldn't trespass on the
jurisdiction of m-] y colleague, but if you ask him,
he could probably tell you about it.
There is no suggestion that this extra grant will
cone out of the 1959/ 60 allocation, which could
force them to cut that work?
No, whatever is done won't interfere with the flow
of the job no. But ask him about that, because
I don't like making statements on matters that one
of my colleagues has been handling in Cabinet and
on which he has secured agreement. But he's got
an interesting story to tell, I should think, which
you might ask him about.
Were you pleased, sir, to have Sir Thomas Playford
back . gain at your conference table this time?
PRIME MINISTER: W-ell, it wouldn't be the same without him.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: Sir, during the Preim. iers' Conference, Mr. Cahill
m.. ade some reference: s to the future of the federal
system. Do you believe that current Commonwealth-
State financial relations and the temiper of the
recent Pramiers' Conference have been jeopardised
or could jeopardise the future of the federal
system?
As a matter of fact, I thought this last Promiers'
Conference was the best tempered conference we have
ever had. I did indeed. Of course, there is no
question about it that uniform tax brings about a
de facto result in constitutional balance that's
quite true. But practically all the States have
accepted that feature of life. As you have
noticed, five out of six in the case of Victoria,
of course, some of their troubles arise from the
formula, and their disabilities on that matter are
quite perceptible, because they arise from the
fact that Victoria was a very low taxed State
before uniform tax, you see. It was almost the
lowest taxed State. State taxes in Queensland were
probably three times as great as those in Victoria,
It was the policy in Victoria to keep State income
tax down, and if you establish a formula on the
average of tax collections over a period of years
then they are bound to suffer and they have. 0
course the form~ ula has had its internal adjustment
over ten years, so that it is now on adjusted
population, which means population adjusted for the
density and the number of school children between
and 15. And Victoria says that is not quite a
fair thing because there are other factors that
ought to be taken into account. For example, they
say: " I'le may have fewer school children per
thousand than some other States, but we have had
more migrants. Ile have had a considerable increase
in our adult population. While that modifies
PRIME MINISTER( continuing): relatively the demand on us for
schools, it increases the demand on us for housing
and services and other things." And then they
also say: " We've had a very acute industrial
development and all these developments in areas
like Dandenong and Thomastown and out towards the
hills and around Geelong by concentrating
population in certain places sets up demands for
now schools, whereas if your increase is more
spread, existing schools with a little extension
could cope with it." In other words, they say
two factors have been selected: density of
population, on which they are bound to lose as a
small State, and school children population, and
there are other factors. I stated quite plainly
that I am not appy about this formula. I think
that it is really the root of the Victorian
trouble about uniform tax, and the day after the
conference the Treasurer and I had a long
discussion with Mr. Bolte and Mr. Rylah about the
formula and invited then to make suggestions that
we should be able to consider. At the same time,
we are going into it, to do a little analysis
ourselves with the idea of meeting the Premiers
the next lime with some constructive proposals
about how the formula ought to be stated. Then,
of course, entirely apart from that, which is the
formula of distribution, the formula amount itself
has chronically proved inadequate and it may be
that we ought to write a new formula, but sta: rt
a new base year as wIl. The formula of increase
will still go on; it works tolerably well, but
it started too low.
( TAPI:] TCAH IANGILD AT TTF] IS STi-IGE)
, QUESTION: By the time you meet them, sir, do you expect to
have a Cabinet decision on the payment of social
services to aborigines?
PRIME MINISTER: Oh yes.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Menzies, some time ago Professor Bland
criticised some unnamed civil servants for speaking
in public on matters of policy and last night in
the House, Dr. Coombs was also criticised for
having made some statements in the Mills Memorial
Lecture about the administration of monetary
policy. I wonder if you could tell us what your
own feeling is about the extent to which civil
servants should be allowed to speak and the
latitude they ought normally to be granted when
speaking on matters of policy in public?
sell, I always think it undesirable for any civil
servant to speak publicly on matters of policy
which civil servants have to administer, because
that involves entering into the political field
which I think is very undesirable, and I'm now
talking about senior civil servants. Dr. Coombs,
you know, is in rather a different position. He
is Governor of the Bank, and the Bank is set up
it is not a branch of the civil service like any
of the departments and he, of course, with his
board, makes an annual report in which many
coamients and observations are made relevant to the
operations of the central bank, and if a man of
that distinction is invited to do the Roy Milne
Lecture they even got me to do it once many
years ago on some aspect of central banking, or
.1
11.
PRIME MINISTE~ R
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: ( continuing) discussing the problems of' central
banking, I think it would be depriving people of'
valuable expert Imowledge if there were sonie rule
that he couldn't do it. But ho would use his
discretion; ha always does in my experience. I've
never knowrn him to exceed the bounds of proper
discretion on those things. I very groatly admire
his discretion and judgment.
In his speech on banking the other night, Dr.
Evatt suggested that the establishment of' the new
money market had been organised in the arbitrary
grant of access to the market to a chosen number of'
stockbrokers, in order to make it possible for them
to in sonmway skim the creara on Government bond
dealings in the various m-. arkets
Yes, I heard that said. As a miatter of fact, the
possibility of having a short-term money market has
been under discussion for many many years. An
abortive atte,:. ipt was made to do it in a small way
about 20 years ago more than 20 years ago. A
short-term money market has great advantages as
the experience in bigger countries shows; but, as
it happens on this occasion, the idea of this kind
of entry into a short-term money market was
promoted by the Commronwealth Bank, very powerfullynot
by somebody else. And after a long examination
proved by us, and in order to miake it operate
certain people enter into relations with the
Commonwealth Bank and with their own banks all
that is quite normal. A's it happens, the creative
idea on this matter cana from the Bank.
That doesn't rule out the possibility of others
entering into the same relationship?
Oh no there's no monopoly rights here. They'll
have lo comply with certain conditions which relate
to their stability and so on, but the bank will see
to that.
A ny views, sir, on the Berlin question?
PRIME MINISTER: No; there is nothing at this stage.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: W~ ill Sir Arthur Fadden be going into the bank job,
sir? I haven't a cluo. Legislation is not through yet.
I might apply for it myself. ( Laughter). Well,
it would be the fifteenth job I've been nominated
for. ( Laughter).
In the last few days in the House at least three
Government backbenchers, while praising certain
points of the legislation, have said more should
be done to protect various aspects would it be
true to say that the Government has completely
closed the door to further amiendmients, or not?
Is the way still open at a later stage?
Look, the Government has had an examination of all
the points that have been raised both ways this
year. The Treasurer has had long discussions with
a few mornbers who had particular ideas. We~ then
examinod the whole of those; we made two
amendments; and so far as I arm concerned, that
is it. There has been no suggostion mnade to me
that Cabinet should re-consider any of these
decisions. They were discussed for a very very
long time.
12.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER:
QUESTION: Do you expect to be going overseas before the next
Premiers'I Conference?
I don't know the date of the Premiers' Conference
yet, so I don't know. I was saying something
earlier that I think it desirable to go overseas
this year some time May-June, somewhere round
that period.
Will you be away for long, sir?
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know yet.
QUESTION: PRIME MINISTER: Will you fly all the way, sir, or go by sea part
of the way?
( lell, I had a good look at my wife the other day
and I decided that if anybody ever wanted a
fortnight's holiday, it was may wife. She is
greatly overuorked. I think I might get her on
to the water for a little while.
With the complim~ ents of:
Hugh Dash,
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister,
CiINBERRA, A. C. T.
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