CURRENT TOPICS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 61, 9 May 1924, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

FUNDS FOR HIGHWAYS. When there was delay in passing the Motor Vehicles Bill it was stated that the measure, as one to provide funds for main highways, was not of extreme urgency because much preliminary work had to be done before funds would be required, say s the Wellington Post. Indeed, it was suggested that this preliminary work would not be finished before Parliament met and put the Motor Vehicles Bill on the Statute Book, Now it appears that the Highways Board has made such progress that it is in need of funds, and if these are not quickly forthcoming there must be a halt. Those who excused the tardiness of the Legislature have thus been proved wrong. However, it will serve no useful purpose now to bewail the delays and postponements of the past. Yet the lesson should not be disregarded. Those organisations and representatives whose differences have hitherto hindered the passage of legislation should quickly remove the obstacles to progress'. A tiretax for road-making purposes is being paid now. It has been levied since the new Customs Tariff came into operation; but the people paying it are not yet in receipt of any benefit. Of course, a useful fund is being accumulated, lut are .. .not the present users of tires entitled to ask that they shall have more satisfaction than the knowledge they are providing funds for the future? Apparently they cannot obtain more till the financial scheme is complete, and it wil not be complete till the Motor Vehicles Bill is passed. In the light of these circumstances it becomes the plain duty of the Government —failing agreement by parties interested in this legislation—to give Parliament the opportunity of deciding the differences.

THE SINGAPORE RASE. Cogent arguments against the abandonment of the project for the establishment of a naval base at Singapore have been advanced from many sources. An instructive contribution to the discussion, which cannot yet be considered closed, is found in the considered opinion -.f the Navy League, says the Otago Daily Times. In its memorandum on the subject the League points out that at any moment there is British trade to the value of £180,000,000 at least, afloat east of Suez, of which £157,000,000 worth i s in what may be called the Singapore sphere of influence. It details the heavy percentages of essential supplies of food and raw materials drawn by Great Britain from that area. Every ship on the eastern trade makes on an average, it is pointed out, five voyages out and five voyages home every year. The 297 ships trading in the India area alone may be said to have an annual floating value of over £800,000.000, which it is the business of the navy to protect. The possible effect of leaving this vast trade unprotected is sketched in the light of what raiding vessels like the Emden and Moewe were able to accomplish during the late war. The memorandum concludes: Expert naval opinion has selected Singapore as the best base for the purpose, since it closes the route to the west and flanks that to Australia and New Zealand. No other position can so completely meet the needs of a fleet opeia. ing in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and, if Singapore is not made available, the fleet will ha-’o no base nearer than Malta, which means that it cannot operate hi Eastern waters at all. Moreover we must not look on the question narrowly as a matter of our seaborne trade alone. If the Royal Navy cannot operate in Eastern waters Australia and New Zealand are left, defenceless, an easy pi -J to the attack of any enemy possessed of a battle fleet, and bases within striking distance. The most profound belief in the goodwill of the Pacific Powers does not justify us in this act of desertion. The satisfaction manifested at Tokio over the decision of Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s Government respecting the Singapore project has been as pronounced as the dissatisfaction ex-

pressed in responsible quarters in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Bruce has said that he does not accept the decision as final. That seems to be a fair view to take of the position.