THE SINGAPORE BASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10066, 12 March 1924, Page 5

THE SINGAPORE BASE

OTHER SIDE OF STORY.

PERCY SCOTT AGAINST IT.

50 MILLIONS TO FOREIGNERS. (Per Press Association —Copyright.) {Received this day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. Sir Percy Scott has written to the Press declaring that the Admiralty has never proved the necessity for new docks at Singapore. The need of a base there .is unquestionable, but it exists already.,-and has cost millions. The Admiralty estimated the cost of two new battleships now building at- ten millions. He had pointed out that with the cost of accessories and the enlargement of the existing docks at Malta, the Singapore outlay would be fifty millions, the greater part of which would be expended on foreign labour; this when Britain’s people were taxed to the breaking point. Hundreds or thousands would stiU remain unemployed. If the Clynes Committee squashed the Singapore iseheme it would save (Britain millions, enable the provision of a proper nir defence of 'London, and enable Australia and New /Zealand to spend their own money on their own defence, instead of British monev in docks at Singapore, which would not be used. The Admiralty must be forced to complete their climb (down and not compromise.

IS NEW ZEALAND FOR IT?

LABOUR LEADER’S VIEW. WESTPORT, March 11. Speaking to-day with reference to Mr Massey’s reply to the British Government regarding Singapore, Mr ±i. E. Holland, M.P. (Leader of the N.Z. Parliamentary Labour Party) said-that although the wishes of the people of the Dominion as a whole had never been Ascertained in the matter, he was confident .that a substantial majority did not approve of the proposal to spend the fabulous sum which the scheme involved a scheme Which, while it would not, in the opinion or certain great naval experts, prove effective as .a means of defence, would furnish a rich harvest of national suspicions, ripening toward fear and hatred and ultimately making for further warfare. Neither Mr Massey nor anyone else was entitled to say that New Zealand favoured the proposal. It was certain however, that the New Zealand Labour movement was uncompromisingly opposed to it,and in this respect was in complete accord with the Australian Labour Party and also the Labour Parties of Great Britain and Ireland, and the whole of the other Dominions.