VIEWS OF DOMINIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 11

VIEWS OF DOMINIONS.

SPEECHES AT CONFERENCE. EXPENDITURE AND POLICY. FAR EASTERN BASE NEEDED. By Telegraph—Proas Association—Copyright (Received 10.5 p.m.) A. and Iv.Z. LONDON", Dec. 3. The official report issued last evening concerning the discussions on Empire defence at the Imperial Conference contaiued summaries of the speeches made by the Dominion delegates. The Prime IVfinister of Canada, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King expressed his appreciation of the service demonstrations which the delegates had witnessed. Ho said they had indicated the need which existed for all parts of the Empire to keep abreast of defence development. Mr. King pro ceeded to describe Canada's defence organisation. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. S. M Bruce, reviewed at length what had been o'one by Australia in the way of defence since the passing of the 1923 con ference resolutions. He said the ordinary expenditure on the maintenance of local defence now approximated £5,000,000 a year. The Australian Government in 1924 also approved of a developmental programme to extend over five years, at a total cost of £5,000 000, excluding the capital cost of naval construction. Aim at Uniformity in Australia. Australia, in' the present five-yearly period, of which this was the third year, was spending £25.000,000 in ordinary maintenance, £5,000,000 for developmental purposes and £6,500,000 for naval and aircraft equipment. This was equal to an annual expenditure of 24s per head of the population throughout the five years, but for the current year the appropriation was more than £8,000,000 and the average cost per head, 27s 2d. The guiding principle on which all Australian defence preparations were based was complete uniformity with th® fighting services of Britain, in order that in a time of emergency it might dovetail into any formation with which the Australian forces might be needed to co-operate. Tho war establishments of the British Army were accepted without modification as the war establishments of the Australian Army. Equipment and Munitions. Mr. Bruce proceeded to outline proposals for the exchange of officers for training purposes. He said the system of exchange of staff officers with England and India would be regularly maintained. Australian officers were at the time en gaged in a flight to the Pacific, with the object of surveying bases for war and commercial aviation purposes and to test the suitability of seaplanes for operation m those waters. Arrangements were being made for the provision of oil tanks at Port Darwin. Australia was looking forward to becoming fully self-supporting in the near future in regard to the provision of equipment and munitions. Her air service would be equipped with the best modern types in the next three years, Landing grounds were being established on strategical air routes as well as grounds for civil aviation.- ; ■ 1 . Commonwealth and Singapore. Mr. Bruce referred to the Singapore base as a question of primary importance to Australia. He said it was of the very greatest importance to evory part of the Empire that the safety of the trade routes of the world, should be ensured in the event "of an outbreak of hostilities. Australia was satisfied that it was essential that there should be a base in the Far East where the British Navy could br quartered in the event of trouble arising in th* Pacific, both to protect the Empire's territories and to ensure the safety of the trade routes.Australia's final decision was that Singapore should be the place for the base and that it was absolutely essential. Although he could not for one second suggest that Australia would contribute toward the construction of the base in view of its remaining commitments, he promised that the position would be discussed by the Commonwealth Parliament. It would be for that Parliament to come to any decision it thought fit. Mr. Bruce concluded by stating that Australia still subscribed to the principle that every effort should be made to bring abont a limitation of armaments. Kaw Zealand's Intentions. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr J. G. Coates, said he had been impressed by the service demonstrations. He was disposed to think the Army had demonstrated that a number of vehicles and machines could be of practical use, not only for military purposes, but for civil and commercial purposes, pa>rticu larly m overseas countries, in connection with pioneering work. He expressed th<* opinion that the taxpayer was getting a most valuable asset in the Army's work, apart from defence. He agreed with Mr. Bruce that it was very hard to separate the parts of the Empire, especially in case of a dispute Any dispute which affected one or two portions affected all. Mr. Coates asked if the burden of construction of the necessary ships could not be borne >n greater proportion by the Dominions which did not consider them selves so vitally concerned. Singapore was based od that principle It seemed important that offers of assistance from the Dominions and India should be made soon. : At present it was not practical politics for New Zealand to build cruisers, but she intended to continue a policy of de velopmg her own division of the Royal Navy and maintaining modern and suitable cruisers. Sharing Britain's Burden. Proceeding Mr. Ccates said the qaes tion of New' Zealand making a definite annual contribution toward the Singapore base would be submitted to bis ment at an early date. He considered the New Zealand Government would be prepared to increase its share of the burden Britain had to bear to enable her supremacy on the sea in any particu lar quarter to become more efficient De tails were now being discussed with the Admiralty. As far as her military policy was con cerned New Zealand intended to con tinue in full agreement with the lm penal Defence Committee's proposals m regard to homogeneity of organisation, material and the use of training estab lishments in Britain, India and any Do minion with whom she could co-operate.

New Zealand was anxious to continue air. development on co-operative lines with Britain and possibly with ■ Australia. New Zealand's geographical position entered into consideration. The South African Minister of Finance, Mr.' N. C. Havenga, gave details of the • Union's military system of defence. He said an approved scheme of coastal defence was maintained at Table Bay and Simons Bay. The question of making Durban an adequately defended port was under consideration. South Africa aimed at keeping; her military organisation, as far as her resources would permit, in harmony with the British Government's policy, but no person could legally be compelled to render personal war service outside South Africa. Therefore, the extent of South Africa's immediate or ultimate participation would depend on that country's , national interest in a war being so great that when the emergency should arise special amending legislation would be acceptable to the people; or it would de pend on the popular interest being great enough to ensure numerous volunteers. Mr. Havenga said he was confident, that if the circumstances were such that the Union desired to participate in a war, public opinion would be such that no difficulty would be experienced in ob taming an infantry brigade for external service. Further effort would be forthcoming if tho ■ situation developed. Development ol Air Forces. In his opinion, in the present stage of their development, the policy which would best serve the Union, as well as the British Commonwealth, was for South Africa to discharge her present respon sibilities as to coastal defence and at the same time to devote her available Cnan cial resources to training and develop ing air and land forces. It would be with these that South Africa would be able most effectively to assist in case of a war in which the Union was participating. Mr. Havenga suggested that the Imperial Defence Committee should review the South African coastal defences and consider whether—on the assumption that it would soon be necessary to rearm or to increase the home coastal defences—aircraft could be more efficiently and economically used. In view of the probable nature and scale of, an attack against South Africa the committee should also consider cognate matters. s Mr. Baldwin accepted this suggestion. Newfoundland and India The Prime Minister of Newfoundland, Mr. W. S. Monroe, said men, especially seagoing men, were the only considerable direct contribution Newfoundland was financially able to offer. The Maharajah of Burdwan, Secretary of State for Indian, said that country subscribed to the general wish, of the Department, but she must not fail adequately to provide for her own local defence. The burdens under her own defence scheme anfortunately rendered it impossible that India should contribute to the Singapore/ base. India had accepted the cecessity for maintaining uniformity in training methods and equipment throughout the Empire as far as was practicable.