READY TO SELL SHEERNESS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11826, 12 May 1924, Page 7

READY TO SELL SHEERNESS

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF OOMMONS ON QUESTION. SINGAPORE BASE URGED. Bt Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegram. LONDON, May 9. The desirability of a policy of disarmament on the one hand, and provision for the equipment of dockyards on the other, were the main points discussed in the debate on the Naval Estimates in the House of Commons. The Conservatives persisted in urging the necessity of improving the Singapore dockyard. Mr Amery said there was an overwhelming case for modernising at least one dockyard east of the Suez Canal, and if anything was done there was no doubt as to which, should bo chosen. Mr C. G. Ammon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in replying, said the Government had noted with the greatest friendliness and pleasure the American Senate’s resolutions in regard to a limitation of armaments conference, and it would do everything possible, as far as Britain was concerned', to show a reciprocal desire to enter any such negotiations and discussions. Admiralty experts, said Mr Ammon, were studying the question of how the development of higher offensive power in different weapons might materially alter the position of the dockyards in the strategical sense. One difficulty concerned the welfare of the population which grow up around and was dependent upon tho existing dockyards. Opinion had now altered on all sides in regard to the desirability of adopting the Geddes Committee’s suggestion to dispose of the Pembroke dockyard; but the Admiralty was quite ready to sell Slicernoss for commercial purposes.