SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19748, 22 September 1927, Page 13

SINGAPORE NAVAL BASE.

DOMINION'S CONTRIBUTION SUM OF £1,000,000 PROPOSED. PAYMENT OVER EIGHT YEARS. HEAVIER DOMINION CRUISERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ..SSOCIATION-] WELLINGTON. Wednesday The proposal that New Zealand should contribute £1,000,000 toward the construction of the naval base at Singapore was discussed in the House this evening. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, said the contribution would be paid in yearly instalments of £125,000 for eight years, and the money would be provided out of the Consolidated Fund, and not by loan. It was also proposed that a heavier type of cruiser should be maintained in New Zealand waters when the Singapore base was ready. In moving that the House should approve the proposals, the Prime Minister said the people of New Zealand had been carrying a reasonable share of the burden of the naval defence of the Empire. The cost per capita so far as Australia and New Zealand were concerned in relation to the Mother Country was: United Kingdom, 255; Australia, 17s; New Zealand, Bs. The question for consideration now was whether New Zealand was bearing a fair share of the burden. Policy of Australia. The Government proposed to assist Jay contributing to the cost of the Singapore naval base and by undertaking certain works in preparation for the maintenance of a heavier type of cruiser in these waters when the Singapore base was ready. The proposals would add, roughly, about 2s a head to the cost of Empire defence in New Zealand. In addition, there would be paid an annual contribution of £125,000 toward the construction of the Singapore naval base. The latter would continue for eight years and would be paid out of the Consolidated Fund, and not from loan. Australia had consistently supported the Singapore base scheme, and when the project was abandoned by the Mac Donald Government Australia decided upon an independent course, ordering cruisers of her own, and for this reason she was unable at present to make a financial contribution to Singapore. At the Imperial Conference, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, stated no better contribution could be made by the Dominions than by assisting in the construction of the Singapore base. No Threat to Japan. If the Washington Treaty had not provided for capital ships in the Pacific the Singapore base would not have been necessary. Capital ships were certainly needed for the defence of the Empire trade routes. New Zealand was the only country of the Empire which had made a definite statemerit of the nature of the contribution it was prepared to make. There was no question of affronting Japan, who, not so long ago, had sent ships to convoy New Zealand soldiers across the seas. The Prime Minister said he had every hope that the League of Nations would eventually outlaw war, but in the meantime, they could not neglect measures for the protection of the trade routes. He hoped the House would give unanimous assent to the proposals, as it would, he believed, thus endorse the general opinion of the people of New Zealand. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, said Labour Governments in all British countries had opposed the Singapore base, because they recognised in it an incentive to warlike possibilities. The payment of the Singapore instalments out of the Consolidated Fund would entail a heavy burden on the people of this country. In March last, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, the First Lord of the Admiralty, when submitting the Naval Estimates, said the cost of the Singapore base, exclusive of the floating dock, would be £7.750.000. It was proposed that New Zealand should con. tribute £1.000.000, or more than oneeighth. -Mr. Bridgeman said £619,000 was required for work in connection with the base, of which the British taxpayers would only be asked to pay £43.500, and the Straits Settlements and Malay States, with New Zealand, would find the balance. Labour Party's Opposition. The' Minister of Defence, Hon. F. J. Rolleston, said there had been a base at Singapore for many years, and it was only "in recent years when ships were enlarged that new docks there became necessary. What was proposed was simply to restore the status quo of some years ago. So far as Australia was concerned, although she was not contributing to Singapore, she was doing her part in another way for Empire defence. Mr. Rolleston said New Zealand's expenditure last year on naval and military work was £1,020.297. This year's estimates provided for a total of £1,083,321, including the £125,000 for Singapore. The Leader of the National Party, Mr. G. W. Forbes, said he associated himself whole heartedly with the Prime Minister in the proposals. The discussion at the Imperial Conference on defence was a guarantee to the people of New Zealand. that the matter had been thoroughly investigated, that the Singapore scheme was fully justified and that the proposed contribution from New Zealand was not too great. On a division the proposals were agreed to by 51 votes to 10, only members of the* Labour Party voting* against the motion.