Not A Party Issue

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 1

Not A Party Issue

Apart from the question of how ur;ntly a naval and aerial base at ngapore is needed, the discussion on c subject, is interesting m other ways, irrent talk about the Labor Govern;nt ••killing" the Singapore idea seems be unjustified. The present Governmt cannot "kill"" the Singapore prosal. The Government can only bei it, or postpone it; for after the icdonatd Government has gone the Ly of all Governments, the basic elesnts that gave rise to the question 11 remain. A" First-Sea Lord — the ofessional head of the Navy— would justified m resigning if he was conneed that the absence of a Singa>re base is an immediate and deadly sril that the Government could' at ice meet. But ; since the' construeon of, the base must be gradual m iy case, can it be* said that refusal ! a Labor Government to turn the rst sod Is endangering the Empire? here are quite several domestic lsaes on which the British electorate tight be appealed to at any time, Ithout putting Imperial defence m ie forefront. A resignation coup by ie professional heads of the Navy ould probably be unwise m the long m. On the other hand, Macdonald wes It to Beatty to make the latter's osition, as First Sea Lord, deal*. And his is the sort of candour m which jlacdonald excels.