Australian Minister for Territories Visits Netherlands New Guinea

In a Cessna plane— owned by the (American) Roman Catholic Mission of the Divine Word and flown by Father De Ruyter—the Australian Minister for Territories, Mr. Paul Hasluck, landed on Hollandia airport, NNG, on June 30. His was a courtesy visit, to the Governor of Netherlands 'New Guinea, Dr. Jan van Baal. Mr. Hasluck was accompanied by the Ad ministrator of Papua- New Guinea, Brigadier D. M. Cleland and by Parliamentary Under - Secretary Mr. John Howse. It was the first time a foreign Minister visited Netherlands NG.

Photo shows Mr. Has

luck. Dr. van Baal, Mrs. van Baal and Brigadier Cleland.

The Australian party was welcomed at the airport by the Governor and Mrs. van Baal; by the vice-president of the Board of Department-Directors, Mr. J. C. Baarspul; the Governmental Secretary, Dr. A. Loosjes; the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Dutch Navy in Netherlands New Guinea, Rear-Admiral A. .. V f. lke " borg; an( * R es 'dent-Commissioner of Hollandia, Mr. Sj. van der Goot. Two camera men of the Information Service at Hollandia

made shots for Australian and Dutch TV.

The Australians stayed at Government House during their visit. They inspected the new hospital and the new Government House (both under construction), the Residential Quarters, the Central Training School of the General Police in Base G, the Elementary School of Navigation at Pancake Hill and the the Malaria Control Centre in Hollandia Binnen.

At a press conference, Mr. Hasluck said that Australia hoped to be neighbours of the Dutch for a long time to come. The interests

of Western New Guinea are best serv\ the hands of the Dutch, he said, and t "It is important that Australia and the M lands will closely co-operate in their diti fields".

An evening reception at Government concluded the visit. Mr. Hasluck and Brii Cleland returned July 2 to Australian Guinea. Mr. Howse stayed a few days in Netherlands New Guinea to make brief 1 to Biak and Manokwari.

Photo: Wim Tas