SINGAPORE BASE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 8

SINGAPORE BASE

DOMINION’S OBLIGATION GOVERNMENT ADHERES TO ARRANGEMENT “TOO LATE TO TURN BACK” New Zealand has so far contributed £250,000 to the Singapore Naval Base, to which the Government attaches such Importance that it will not be willing to reconsider the contribution still payable by the Dominion. This statement was made by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) in the House of Representatives yesterday in reply to a question by Mr. F. Langstone (Walmarino) as to whether the Prime Minister would reconsider the payment of New Zealand’s quota of £125,000 per annum for eight years and transfer the money to relief of unemployment in the Dominion- . . , The Prime Minister said he wished to take the opportunity of explaining the position to the House. The commitment made to contribute for the Singapore base was made by the previous Government. He supported it, but he merely wished to mention the fact that it was made by the previous Government, who had entered into a contract with the Home Government. New Zealand was doing its part in connection with the maintenance of the base. The matter was a very important one, because it was a subject of discussion at the moment. He had replied to the British Government some days ago expressing adherence to the arrangement entered into. “We have over a million sterling worth of goods passing between the countries with which the arrangement was made. We have an obligation to protect the intersts of the people in connection with that large sum that is passing backwards and forwards. We have a distinct obligation on our shoulders. We cannot pass it on to other countries,” said the Prime Minister. The advisers of the British Admiralty, he continued, had recommended the establishment of the Singapore base, and a former Home Government had entered into an obligation that the work should be carried put. It was now too late honourably to turn back on the undertaking that had been entered into. It was Idle for anyone in New Zealand to say that the money should be saved and utilised for other purposes. It was an honourable obligation entered into in connection with the defence of this country and of the tracks of the sea between New Zealand and the Old Country. Mr. J. O’Brien (Westland) : It is not to protect trade. It is a war measure.

The Prime Minister: It is partly a war measure and partly a trade measure. A matter in which there is £100,000,000 at stake can’t be lightly thrown aside in peace times. We have a certain obligation to protect the interests of the traders, and we are doing that. If war should unhappily arise, the Singapore base would be necessary to enable the British Admiralty to carry on its affairs. The contract was entered into, and there is no use beating the air about it now. We are standing by it, and rightly so.