THE Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 10th, 1023. SINGAPORE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10464, 10 May 1923, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader THURSDAY, MAY 10th, 1023. SINGAPORE.

Our readers will -say what lias Singapore to do with Temuka? The answer is to get a map of the world and to concentrate attention on the Pacific Ocean. The British Empire has a few stations on the Western side of the Pacific, Hong-Kong and Singapore, and none on the Eastern or American side. The Singapore base is absolutely on British Territory, with the undefined and unclassified British atmosphere behind it. Kong-Kong is not on the same plane. With the long view of perspective the centre of gravity of the weight of International activities, so far as an ocean is concerned, the Pacific Ocean will supersede the Atlantic Ocean, in time. The British Empire is not made up of Lloyd Georges or Arthur Balfours, but of men with the long sight for the welfare of 'the British Empire. "What a long-drawn-out paen of praise we have to sing to the men with the long sight who control the destinies of our Empire. At the present moment wlunn have we in New Zealand, who day in and day out have the long sight.' As the sun rises and sets, no sure in the years to come, will the cenlre of gravity of the next O real est Cataclysm be around the Pacific Ocean. And New Zealand is the finest plum for the picking. Our safety lies in the great naval 'oases of the Pacific, and Singapore is one of them.

Australia recognises this fact, Bui is divided on acounf of a twisted notion of self consciousness. She will -wake-up one day too late, it may be ten. twenty, thirty years hence. We still have jNI ad-cap-Harry under hand, and it is for us to say that we stand in with the Old Grey Mother of the North and that we shall stand or fall for the Naval Bases that she shall plant in the Pacific, in Statsmansltip, when the petty noises of bye-elec-tions take place, we hear so little of the big questions. The long sight is smothered by petty twinklings of little sounding cymbals. Who has spoken about the safety of New Zealand fifty years hence.' Has Mr Massev or lias Mr Wilford? The only thing these men care for is their skin for the moment. It may be that we shall find we are in the position of Hip Van Winkle.