NAVY ESTIMATES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 105, 6 May 1927, Page 7

NAVY ESTIMATES

THE SINGAPORE BASE

DOMINIONS' PART

REDUCTION- IN THE COST

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, 23rd March,

In presenting his Estimates, the First Lord of the Admiralty took for his Department full credit for having saved enough in the last two years to provide it 3 own building programme, and leave the country £5,000,000 to the good. The Admiralty and the Exchequer had carried cvi. their bargain of two years ago most manfully on both sides, and the former bad more than fulfiiilled its undertakings. Compared with the estimate for 1914, £51,500,000, the estimate for the coming year was really £17,000,000 better, duo allowance having been made for the rise in prices.

The I'irst Lord spoke with satisfaction of what had been achieved at the Imperial Conference in giving the Dominion representatives an insight into our naval problems.; On behalf of the Admiralty he welcomed the spirit of co-operation disclosed at the Conference. At the same time he hoped very earnestly that that spirit would .be translaied into material terms, and that those who had not contributed so far would emulate the example of those who had already done so. One of the decisions re-affirmed at the Conference, he said, referred to adequate provision for safeguarding the maritime communications of the several parts of the Empire, and the routes and waterways along and through which their armed forces and trade pass. Another dealt •with the provision for naval bases and facilities for repair and fuel, bo as to ensure the mobility of the fleets. A third was the desirability of. the maintenance of a minimum standai-d of naval strength —namely, equality with the naval strength of any foreign Power. SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION. "Those resolutions,' which had been passed in 1923, were re-affirmed last autumn," Mr. Bridgeman continued. "The Dominions know the policy we are trying to carry out. They agree with itj they realise that, financially, it is a very formidable one, and they welcomed the spirit of co-operation, iv the Empire. We also welcome, and shall welcome, that spirit of co-operation as it develops, but it must be remembered that certain parts o£ the Empire have already made very large contributions. At the same time, I very much hope that in years to come other parts of the Empire may also contribute, and that tho3e who have contributed may contribute more. It is not for us to. dictate to the other parts of the Empire what they ought to do, but I am quite certain that they have realised the responsibility which- rests upon them, and I confidently hope that, in the way which seems best to them, and which it is easiest for them to accomplish, they will come to the assistance of the Mother. Country in bearing_this burden. "There is cne other resolution passed at the Conference to which I wish to refer, and it is that with regard to Singapore: The Conference takes note of the deep interest of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, and India in the provision of a naval base at-Singapore as essential for ensuring the mobility necessary to provide for the security of the territories and trade of the Empire in Eastern waters. ''That was re-affirmed, and the re-affir-mation carries with it the refutation of a statement, sometimes made in this House, that . Australia has lost her interest in the Singapore Base. Her interest is the same and .is as great as it ever was." (Ministerial cheers.) Mr. Ammon (Camberwell, N., Lab.): "How much money is there to back those sentiments?" COST OF SINGAPORE BASE. Mr. Bridgeman: "The lion, gentleman knows perfectly well that, when he was in power, Australia wished to support with money the Singapore Base, and it was simply because he and his friends would not go on with it that they diverted their money to building cruisers instead. That is a matter of simple history which the hon. gentleman, I should have.thought, would rather have kept to himself. (Ministerial cheers.) I was going to observe that the total figures for the cost of the Singapore Base has been reduced from £11,000,000 to £7,750,000. That is exclusive of the cost of the new floating dock which is being constructed to go there."

This reduction has been made possible by a more careful survey o£ the ground and o£ what is necessary, and also by leaving out certain facilities for storage and repair which are not absolutely necessary, and which, if, unfortunately, the political outlook were to become clouded, could be erected in a very short time. Towards the cost of the whole of. the scheme the Straits Settlements.have contributed the land, Hong Kong has already given £250,000, the Malay States have given £2,000,000, and we should be very glad to receive further contributions. (Laughter and cheers.) They quite spontaneously offered the money, and there is no reason why other people should not do the same.

The sum required this year for Singapore, for the construction of the floating dock, will be £335,500; for other works £284,000, of which £576,000 will come from the Malay States, and only £43,500, fortunately for us, this year from the British taxpayer.