EMPIRE DEFENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16579, 7 November 1924, Page 7

EMPIRE DEFENCE.

SECOND CRUISER FOR DOMINION

PASTERN PROBLEM

(P<>r Press Association.! WELLINGTON, last night. In moving the second reading of the Appropriation Bill Mr Massey said one -Appropriation Bill was much like another, hut. this one probably had fewer extraneous clauses than most of them. He explained that the most important provisions are I hose relating to the expenditure of £IOO,OOO for the maintenance of a. second cruiser, extending the benefits of the Public Service superannuation fluid to officers of the Cook Islands and Samoan -Seivices, and an appropriation of £20,C00 for payment to local bodies of a proportion of the royalties on sales of timber from State forests.

Mr Massey recalled that last year Parliament had voted a sum of £IOO,000 towards the costs of the naval base at Singapore, but the scheme was abandoned by tlio new British Government. Probably Singapore would now lie proceeded with. He believed it would, and he hoped so. Since then, the Admiralty had advised that- the proper tiling for New Zealand to do instead of assisting in regard to Singapore was to provide another cruiser. If the necessary arrangements could he made the British Government would' provide the ship, though the late Government had not committed itself in that respect, and Now Zealand would maintain it.

Mr Massey expressed the opinion that I lie cost of maintenance would he about £200,000. This was the opportunity for New Zealand to do her duty. The Admiralty stated two cruisers could be much more satisfactorily managed tlnv> one, while they would also mean greater efficiency. •Mr Forbes (Huruiiui) : Will the extra cruiser ho kept -stationed in New Zealand waters all the time?

Mr Massey replied that her headquarters would ho in New Zealand waters Our responsibilities, he pointed out, had increased greatly since ten years ago They extended almost from the Equator to the South Pole, and included Samoa, tho Cook Group, several British islands scattered over the South Pacific, (he Union Islands and the Ross Sea. Mr Forbes asked if the Dominion had sufficient oil reserves to supply the. cruisers.

Tho Prime Minister replied in the affirmative. and said that the Admiralty saw no difficulty about that. He referred to the oil tanks at Devonport-, Auckland.

Mr Wilford said his party stod for the best means of the defence of the Empire. He quoted figures to show the heavy burden the United Kingdom was bearing in the matter of naval defence, and to show the inadequacy'of the amount being contributed by the Dominions. Lie advocated frequent interchange of naval vessels between the various parts of the Empire. Great Britain stood far behind Japan in naval strength, and while we could not make up the difference in strength, we could do something in that direction. We should realise that Japan's base was being moved nearer us all the time, and now it had approached to within a few miles north of Australia. It- was perfectly plain that as we had had to abandon Hongkong as a Lise as neccs saiy for mobilisation of our fleet, a ba->e must he established at 'Singapore, and unless we moved Japan would get in ahead of us. There were 10.0C0 acres of land held by Japan in agricultural leases and leases in perpetuity at the entrance to the Straits of Jahore, very near Singapore, which Japan might make use of for tjie purpose of a base. Mr Fraser (Wellington Centra!) : The Japanese Government? Mr Wilford: Japanese individuals. Mr Fraser: Why mention tho Govern ment of Japan ?

Mr Wilford said the whole of the iron and ore deposits in the Malay Slates were now owned by Japan. “’I am not going to go into any further details,” said Mr Wilford, ‘‘than to say that the Japanese are moving down this way.” Mr Fraser said no one would be inclined to minimise the importance of the question raiser! by the leader of the Oppositon, because "there was an Eastern problem. If it was possible to settle it on the lines of goodwill and give and take of territory, then it should be done. He believed the greatst difficulty was with China. At. the same time he believed it was foolish to suggest-sinister motives. Their heads should not be buried in the sand, for there was a. struggle for possession of Eastern iron ore and other deposits, but if the problem could he adjusted by mutual forbearance then that course should be followed. Mr Holland also touched on the subject. and said be regretted that while £IOO,OOO was placed' on the Estimates for an additional cruiser nothing was being done for urgent domestic problems. There was a good deal of nonsense talked about the Japanese and lie deplored the speech made by Mr Wilford. Bismarck had adopted such methods in tlm days of the German Empire. The nations were war weary, and provided the proper steps were taken bv different countries in the direction of peace they would minimise the risk of war. He twitted Mr Wilford as a member of the National Cabinet in sending out warnings to the press against saying anything about the Japanese or the presence of their warships here. Mr Holland complimented the Government on having contributed £25,000 towards the Japanese earthquake relief fund, and said it could not but have an influence for good. Mr Wilford denied any , imputation that he had said the Japanese were aggressive. He did not believe they were. Mr Wilford replied that the people of Japan had no say. It was the Council of the Elder Statesmen who had influence with the Emperor. Regarding the new cruiser. Mr Massoy, in reply, said that- credit must be given Japan for being a loyal ally of the Empire for many years. All the same wo must do our share in the way of Empire defence. Enoromus losses were incurred during the last, war because of insufficient cruised protection. "I don't think the moral gesture of Ramsay MacDonald is sufficient to keep the peace of the world,” declared Mr Massey. Mr Holland : His foreign policy was far away better than anything else. Mr Atmore (Nelson): He built six cruisers. J Mr Massey said lie thought that should he reasonably means of defence, especially naval defence. Land defence was nccssary but he thought- naval defence was of more importance to the outlying portioiis of the Empire than any other forms of defence.

The Bill was then passed in all stages with one technical amendment.

The House after receiving several reports adjourned for lunch.

When the House resumed a message was received from the Legislative Council to the effect that they had passed the Appropriation Bill. Mr Speaker then proceeded to Government. House to procure his Excellency's signature to the measure. On returning at 4.50 Mr Speaker announced that his Excellency had been pleased to accord Royal assent to the measure.