PRESS STATEMENT Ã’ ÃÂ in ,, iviinic,TER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EMBARGO 7AM TUESDAY, 25th JULI

Swartz to retire from Parliament.

Before leaving on a regular official visit of four days to the

Northern Territory and three states the Minister for National

Development and Member for Darling Downs, Sir Reginald Swartz

announced in Toowoomba that he intended to retire from the

Federal Parliament at the next election which was expected to

be held at the end of this year. Sir Reginald who is 61 years

of age has represented the Darling Downs since 1949 a period of

about 23 years and during this period he had been a Parliamentary

Secretary for over nine years and a Minister for nearly eleven

years. At present he is Minister for National Development

and Leader of the House. .

Sir Reginald said that for some time he had been considering

the matter of retirement at the end of this Parliament and when

he had been asked to stand for the position of Deputy

Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party he had made it clear

that if he had been elected he would only be available until

the next election. .

He added that the announcement was now been made after

discussions with the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party

Electoral Committee he also said that when the new

Liberal Party candidate was selected for Darling Downs he

would assist in every possible way during the campaign and he

was completely confident that the Liberal—Country Government

under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Mr McMahon, would

be returned at the next election to give Australia a further

three years of responsible and stable Government. Sir Reginald

said that he hoped to undertake some private business

appointments. .

