SINGAPORE BASE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 10

SINGAPORE BASE

NEW ZEALAND'S ATTITUDE

In response to inquiries to-day, the Prime Minister (tho Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) stated that the proposals of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with reference to naval defence had received the attention of tho New Zealand Government, which had communicated a tentative expression of its views on the subject to London. The Prime Minister stated that his message made it clear that tho 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 tho latter question which had been expressed on previous occasions, remained unaltered. Attention has also been called to the fact that New Zealand's interest in the Singapore Base was indicated by tho provision of a contribution of £1,000,000, of which two instalments totalling £250,000 had already been paid. The hope was also expressed that no alteration in the policy of Imperial defence would l»e made without consultation with the Dominions, and it had been suggested to the British Government that, if possible, the matter Bhould be reserved for discussion at the next Imperial Conference.