FED: Howard has cup of tea with Sir John in hospital

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FED: Howard has cup of tea with Sir John in hospital

By Roz King

SYDNEY, April 30 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard dropped in for a cup of tea withformer prime minister Sir John Gorton in a Sydney hospital today.

Mr Howard visited Sir John at St Vincent's Private Hospital early this morning on hisway to the airport, a spokeswoman for the PM said.

"(Mr Howard) said he appeared alert and in good spirits," the spokeswoman said.

"I think they had a cup of tea together."

Sir John, who has pneumonia, remained in a stable condition today.

A spokesman for St Vincent's Hospital said the frail 90-year-old was not gravely illas some reports suggested.

"He's not a young guy and he's not well," the spokesman said.

Sir John, Australia's 19th prime minister, who held office from 1968 to 1971, was yesterdayadmitted to St Vincent's after being taken by ambulance from his home at Vaucluse in Sydney'seastern suburbs.

Sir John, a fighter pilot in World War II, became prime minister after Harold Holtdisappeared while swimming on a Victorian beach. He was replaced by Bill McMahon in aleadership spill in 1971.

AAP rk/arb/was/de s

KEYWORD: GORTON NIGHTLEAD