SINGAPORE BASE POLI

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 11

SINGAPORE BASE POLI

DISCUSSION IN COMMON — rPOSITION OF THE DOMINIO • x QUESTIONING OF LABOI ■ By Telegraph—Frees Assn. —Copyright London, Dec. 2 On the motion for the adjournmen the House of Commons till January Sir Frederick Penny referred to slowing down, of work” at Singftj He asked did the Government inten refund the Dominions’ contributi tvhich had been taken under false. fences. ‘He had spent 21 years at Si pore, and knew it wjis the key of Pacific.- \ ’ Lord. Roberts had once said that mastery of the world would, eventi be-fought out* tijerc. The cost of base was a mere, bagatelle comp with its value as an imperial asset. Labour policy was based on a ,fu mental error in thinking that anti feeling was universal. He Tioped Government would keep faith with Dominions, give security to trade, provide’ a greater factor for the n tcnanco of permanent peace in Pacific. • ' •

Mr. W. Alexander,’ First Lord of Admiralty, said it was necessary, in nection ’ with the -naval conference consider- whether any large capital penditure was wise and proper, ha regard to the changed circumsh arising from the conference. 'JLhat the whole basis of the Ministry’s sion, which was communicated to Dominions. It was unwise and unfa say that money had been obtained th Dominions by false pretences. It unreasonable to make such a matt party, question. No British Govern! had ever run away from its obligat Sir F. Penny interjected: “I do desiTo to make party capital, bin are betraying a trust by taking m if we eventually <;lose the Sing: base.”

NO PROTESTS FROM DOMINIC Mr.-Alexander said the Domi were fully informed Land no further tests had come from them, becaus Dominions trusted the * Governir pledge that before the final de< they would be fully consulted. 7 Admral Beamish: “Have the D< ions expressed agreement with the ing down of the work?” Mr. Alexander: “That is not thej that matters. The point, is, they w fully .consulted, before finality is res Tn no sense would the Government cision- to slow down the work pe the result of the conference be a cd to become a bargaining factor a conference. Nothing could be raist .the conference denying the right British Commonwealth to look aft own. individual. interests.” Mr. George Lambert said that no could protect east to west conn which was bound to be paralysed i event of a war against Japan, hoped the work at the base won abandoned. “We signed the L Covenant and the Kellogg Paet, y< are building a great battleship which is only a precaution,for I war,” ]>o said. ■ - ’ Rear-Admiral Beamish declared the Government's action was ai instance of the policy of “scuttle surrender to the pacifist outcry.” f pore was as necessary as Gibfait Malta. He had no confidence ir MacDonald as a representative a naval conference. . Commander Southby said Sing would be a guarantee .of world and a menace to nobody, ■Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery contended even if the naval W reduction of the British nayy would still require Singapore." < must be undiminished power and to' co-operate for every part of the piye in common affairs. The' decision; of the Imperial ment has not halted work entire the iiaval base, says a Singapore age. Excavating and filling is ceeding actively for the works an powerhouse which are under con tioßj? and dredging has been ret at the entrances to the actual dock; The contractors have built a blc houses'to accommodate 200 of the pcan staff. , ,