NAVAL DEFENCE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 11

NAVAL DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY. PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATED. (UKIIED PKESS ASSOCIATION' ■—BV ELEC'I'SIC TKLEGBAI'H—COPVKIQHT.) (Received May 19th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, May IS. The "Morning Post" congratulates the Prime Minister of Now Zealand, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, on not accepting the recommendations of a, Committee regarding naval defence forces and the Dominion's contribution to the Singapore base, which it describes as the "counsel of despair." The newspaper says New Zealand is struggling wisely and bravely with a storm. Her latest gesture entitles her to all the more sympathy from the Mother Country. [At "Wellington on Wednesday the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that the Government had decided not 'to accept the recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission that the New Zealand Naval Defence Force should be transferred to the control of the British Government. He said it was intended to carry on under the present system. Referring to the Commission'* recommendation that expenditure on the Singapore base should be curtailed, Mr Forbes said the Government did not intend to make any reduction at present. The annual payment had already been reduced from £125,000 to £IOO,000, and it was intended to l<eep tip that payment in the meantime. The Government, ho said, had a definite assurance that the Sing'apore base would bo completed.]