SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 929, 30 January 1924, Page 5

SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

EXPENDITURE MAY CEASE. LONDON, Jan. 29. The Daily Herald says, regarding Singapore, that attention has been draAvn to a speech by Mr Hudson, of Coine Valley, Avho said that the Government would make it clear that expenditure on this project must end, thus giving neAV confidence to America and Holland, Avhicli regarded Britain’s activities in that quarter with suspicion.

The paper’s correspondent proceeds to state that a Cabinet decision of this character will come as no surprise to the Labour movement or the general publio. Hitherto the naval chiefs, notably Earl Beatty, have opposed all efforts to stop the project and have suggested that such a decision might lead to one or tAvo resignations at the Admiralty-, but these Avould not cause a sixteenth part of the stir that the Pall Rail clubs imagine. The scheme is regarded as “sailing near the wind” in vieAV of the Washington agreement and the cost exceedingly large in vieAV of the country’s financial stress, even were its usefulness proven, which is far from the case. Competent critics have stated that the cost will be at least twenty- millions, apart from the subsequent upkeep.—A. and N.Z. cable.