SINGAPORE BASE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21216, 23 December 1930, Page 12

SINGAPORE BASE.

MODIFIED SCHEME. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) CONDON, November 6: Tlie report of the committee which has been considering the Singapore base was received and approved by the heads of delegations of the Imperial Conference. It remains to be formally adopted by the plenary conference. The committee’s report, when it has been passed by the conference, is to be the subject of a statement in the House of Commons. . t Mr Ramsay MacDonald declined at question time on Tuesday to be drawn on the subject. ( F.- pleaded that the matter was still. before the conference. It may be taken for granted that the Australian and New Zealand delegates pressed for the completion of the base, which they look upon as a necessary insurance for the safety of the trade routes. In 1924, Socialist Ministers resolved to abandon work on the base altogether. Their decision was instantly reversed by the succeeding Conservative Government. Now, it is understood, the Socialists have agreed to go on with the constructional work on condition, apparently, that there is to be a certain delay in giving full effect to the plans. Some time ago the statement was made that it would cost as much to stop the work and cancel the main contract as it would to continue the work. It may ■be token that this consideration, ns well as the importunities of the dominion delegates, has weighed with the Home Government. It is likely, therefore, that the conclusion which has been arrived at is that the main contract—known as the Jackson contract is to be proceeded with, but that certain other works are to bo hold u$ for a parjod <4 five years.