NAVAL DEFENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4590, 16 May 1922, Page 1

NAVAL DEFENCE.

(Per Presi Association.) Wellington, May 13. When spoken to by a Press representative regarding tho cabled state--1 meiifc of Lord Lee of Farnham concerning tlio allocation of the cost of tho Imperial Navy, tho Prime Ministor referred to a speech which he made in Parliament on his return I from the Empire Conference. He j had quoted a resolution of the ConI fereiico supporting Empire co-opera- j j tion in providing naval defence; that the method of expense and such

I cc-opcration arc matters for the j firm determination of tho several Parliaments concerned and that any I recommendations thereon should ue deferred until after the coming conference on disarmament. Mr Massey at the same time stated emphatically that New Zealand would do her duty. Referring to the matter to-day, the Prime Minister said that his words held good. As he stated to Parliament, apportionment of the cost would j probably be a matter for consideration at the 'first Empire Council following j the Washington Conference, but any ' airangement made then would be submitted to ratification by tho Parliaments of the Empire. In the meantime New Zealand continues to make a contribution in the maintenance of H.M.S. Chatham and smaller vessels, and she is still paying off tho capital cost of H.M.S. New Zealand, and Will be for somo years to come.