NAVAL DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1929, Page 2

NAVAL DEFENCE

NEW ZEALAND’S ATTITUDE. IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE BASE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 27. In response to inquiries to-day, the Prime Minister stated that the proposals of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom with reference to naval defence had received the attention of the New Zealand Government, which had communicated a tentative expression of its views on the subject to London. This message made it clear that the New Zealand Government attach 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 the latter question, which had been expressed on previous occasions, remained unaltered. Attention had also been called to the fact that New Zealand’s interest in the Singapore base was indicated by the provision of the 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 be made without consultation with the Dominions, and it had been suggested to the British Government that if possible the matter should be reserved for discussion at the next Imperial Conference.