NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19683, 29 July 1929, Page 10

NAVAL DEFENCE.

SINGAPORE BASE. NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE. ,?81-S ASSOCIATION TELEGEAIO WELLINGTON, July 27. In response to enquiries to-day, Sir Joseph Ward said that the proposals of his Majesty's Government in the Lnited Kingdom with reference to naval defence had received the attention of the New Zealand Government, which had communicated a tentative expression of its views on the subject to London. The Prime Minister said that his message made it clear that the New Zealand Government attaches the greatest importance to the question of naval defence, and, in particular, to the naval base at Singapore, and that the views of this Dominion on the later question which had been expressed on previous occasions remained unaltered. Attention had also been called to the fact that New Zealand's interest in the Singapore Base was indicated by the provision of a contribution of £.1,000,000, of which two instalments totalling £250,000 had already been paid. A hope was also expressed that no alteration in the policy of Imperial defence would be made without consultation with the Dominions, and it had been suggested to the British Government that, if possible, the matter should be reserved for discussion at the next Imperial Conference.