IMPERIAL NAVY

Southland Times, Issue 19515, 15 May 1922, Page 5

IMPERIAL NAVY

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May lb. When spoken to by a Press reporter regarding the cabled statement of Lord Lee of Farnham concerning the allocation of the cost of the Imperial Navy, the Prime Minister referred to the speech which he made in Parliament on his return from the Empire Conference. He said that he had quoted the resolution of the conference supporting Empire co-operation in providing naval defence that the method and extent of such co-operation -were matters for the final determination of the several parliaments concerned. Any recommendations on the subject should be deferred until after the coming conference on digarmament. Mr Massey at the same time stated emphatically that New Zealand would do her duty. Referring to the matter to-day the Prime Minister said that his words still held good. As he stated to Parliament the apportionment of the cost would probably be a matter for consideration at the first empire council following the Washington Conference, but any arrangement made then would be subject to ratification by the Parliaments of the Empire. In the meantime New Zealand continues to make a contribution in the maintenance of H.M.S. Chatham and the smaller vessels and the Dominion was still paying off the capital cost of H.M.S. New Zealand and would be for some years to come.