THE SINGAPORE BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1926, Page 7

THE SINGAPORE BASE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. DEFENCE OF THE DOMINIONS. LONDON, March 23. In the course of the debate on the naval estimates in the House of Commons, the Labour member for Camberwell, Mr. C. G. Amnion, who was secretary to the Admiralty in the Labour Cabinet, asked why the floating dock at the Singapore naval base was to be completed before the graving dock, as was first intended. He also asked why the old' German dock was not being used. Commander C. Burney, Conservative member for Uxbridge, asked whether, in view of the forthcoming Imperial Conference, it was not possible for the Labour party to reach an agreement with the Ministry regarding the Singapore base, so that the representatives of the Dominions might realise that even with the change of Government their defence would be safeguarded. The fact that when the Labour Government was in power it had abandoned the Singapore base scheme and simultaneously increased the air vote for the defence of Britain, was mentioned by Commander Burney. This, he said, had created an impression in the Dominions that the House of Commons waa willing to vote money for the defence of England at the expense of the weakening of the defence of the outer Empire. Commander J. M. Ken worthy.' . Liberal member for Kingston-upon-Hull, urged that it was not too 'late ft>r the Admiralty to reconsider its policy and hast the Pacific Fleet on Sydney instead oi on Singapore. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr W. C. Bridgeman, explained that it wat easier to send out the new floating dock in sections than it would have heer to tow out the old German dock.— (A and N.Z. Cable.)