SINGAPORE BASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 7

SINGAPORE BASE.

EMPIRE NECESSITY. New Zealand's Continuation Of Contribution. MOTION OF APPRECIATION. (United I'.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Kcceived 12 noon.) LONDON, June 8. Proposing a resolution of appreciation of New Zealand's statesmanlike and self-sacrificing action in continuing' her contribution to the Singapore naval base, Earl Beatty told ' the council of the British Empire League that there was no reason why the original scheme, costing £11,000,.000, should not be continued when world conditions improved. The expenditure by 1035 would be £5,145,000. The Dominions had always recognised that Singapore was one of the most important outposts of the Empire. Britain's trade and possessions in the Far East were greater than those of any Power, not excluding Japan. Mr. L. S. Amery, former Dominions Secretary, seconding . Earl Beatty's. motion, said that without Singapore the Navy might be wiped out as an effective factor east of Suez. The trend of political-developments in the East indicated that the area of political disturbance would be there rather than . any; where else, for which reason Britain was bound to safeguard her interests.

Now 'A - I's action was a happy augury fo: ,uva, where such economic problems must be approached in a bigger spirit.