SUBMARINE BASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9573, 26 July 1923, Page 3

SUBMARINE BASE.

AT BAY OF ISLANDS. ■•IX TIME OF WAR ENEMY WORLD COME FROM NORTH.” PICTON SOUNDS UNSUITABLE. An important statement in regard to the location of the submarine base for New Zealand was made by the Minister for Defence (Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) last week in reply to questions by Mr W. J. Girling (Wairau) and Mr J. O’Brien (Westland).

The submarine base, stated the Minister, would not be located in the Picton Sounds. Speaking in his private capacity some time ago, he had agreed with the people of the Picton Sounds that the Sounds were admirably lilted for a submarine base; and that was his opinion at that time. But lie was now informed by the experts in these matters that, suitable as the Picton Sounds might be in other respects, they were too far south for the purpose. It was anticipated that in case of war the enemy would come from" the north, and the sooner wo could get to the enemy the better. We were not going to wait at Nelson nor at Wellington for the enemy’s ships, but would go to meet them before they arrived in our waters; and that being so, the submarine base must be. as far north as possible. It would,- therefore, he located not even at Auckland, but in the neighborhood of the Bay of Islands. If it were possible to find a suitable base at the North Cape, it would, indeed, be located there. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) : You are telling the enemy. (Laughter.) Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that any enemy with any knowledge of strategy would know that the base would he placed as far north as possible, for the reason lie bad mentioned. But it was quite possible that the enemy would take it that he was making the statement on purpose to mislead them. , (Laughter.) Ho did not think it likely that the Sounds would be used as a base of any sort in time of peace. Ships guarding the Straits in war time would, however, naturally shelter in the Sounds where there was good shelter. A great naval base like that proposed at Singapore required forts, docks, and so forth; and it was not likely that a naval base of that kind would be established in New Zealand—at least, not for a very long tune to come. H.M.S. Chatham, the Philomel and naval vessels other than submarines would he based at Auckland.