Speeches and broadcasts

Start Date
01 January 1961
End Date
31 December 1961
Notes
The National Library of Australia is using this item to test handwritten text recognition in Trove
Physical Context
MS 4936-Papers of Sir Robert Menzies/Class. Original Consignment/Series 6/File 149
View Finding Aid

Text

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER  

pgi it^ imflrøL  

11th May, Ipél CANBERRA  

Opening of Tandem Accelerator Lab.  

and New Library Wing  

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY  

AgfiMtøLqa. mmzm  

mi  

msmMM .up  

êjmsâ^ÈLtM ..  

Sir,  

am credibly informed that as we sit here, more or less in  

comfort, there are other people clustering around foundation stones add  

switches, hanging on our every word. That may or may dot be the case,  

but I've been informed that it is, and so must get on with my job,  

will follow the order that you followed, Sir, and speak first about  

matter of which lam an utter master, the Tandem Electro-static  

Generatori {Laughter)  

There are two things among many that excite ray admiration in  

Professor Titterton, The first is that he is persistent fellow and  

never takes "No” for an answer. The second is that he pronounces this  

controversial word "lab£ratory" which is, after all, much easier than  

"laboratory",and indeed, much less liable to misinterpretation,  

(Laughter)  

Now just want to tell you this about the Tandem Electro-  

static Generator. It came up to me because, for some odd reason,  

though it hasn't worked out too badly from the point of view of the  

University, happen to be their Minister. They brush everybody  

aside, they come into my room and they lay down the law to me, Well,  

shouldn't say "lay down the law" because might have some  

opportunity of correcting them on that. But they produce their  

ideas. When this one came up was completely baffled as to what it  

was. Indeed, it was only yesterday that said to my wife, who is  

perfect mine of unscientific information, "Do you know, my dear, what  

Tandem Generator is?" She said, "Everybody knows that Tandem is  

bicycle built fof two". But said "This one cost half million!"  

(Laughter) She said "It must be studded with diamonds". You know,  

jewelled in every movement. But really, we were quite mystified,  

cast an eye on to Sir Mark Oliphant, who is fount of  

wisdom for us, and he gave it benevolent look. He saids Yes, he  

thought this had great deal of merit, that it would open up new  

phase of this tremendously important research work that has been  

going on in this department. As for Professor Titterton, he had no  

doubt about it. By the time he had finished with me wondered  

whether perhaps we shouldn't have three (Laughter) you know, at  

slight price advantage if we took three, instead of one. But that's  

the kind of man he is.  

Then thought, "No, no, we must get back to what we talk  

about in politics, but seldom practise, the great principle of  

priorities". So asked the then almost newly formed Academy of  

Science whether it would care to advise us on this matter. And it  

gave this high priority, Well that left us defenceless, if not to  

our enemies at any rate to our friends. And so all that remained for  

me was to engage in the trifling exercise of persuading the Treasury  

that half million pounds would be well spent in this direction.  

And the Treasury, still reeling from the blows of the Murray  

Commission and what was to come thereafter, collapsed, more or less,  

and in small voice said, "All right", dth proper reservations, and  

without creating precedent, and without all those other things that  

decently-constituted Treasury says, and it got through.  

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