PUBLIC OPINION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18143, 30 April 1927, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

WHAT OTHER WRITERS ARE SAYING. Naval Defence. Tn announcing the contribution r, f a million sterling to the Singapore Base, the Prime Minister has shown sound Imperial statesmanship. This unequivocal affirmation of New Zealand's recognition of the necessity for a protective base may exercise an important influence on future events. Mr Uoates. in fact, has consolidated British naval policy so far as the Pacific is concerned. The statement published by the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party suggests an unbalanced judgment and distorted vision. It is one of those unfortunate pronouncements in which he from time to time, reveals his real political outlook, and by his disregard of the uncompromising facts of a situation discounts the influence he might otherwise exercise. Mr Holland should know that the mere assertion of such political ideals as, for example, a hitc New Zealand or a White Australia is not enough. In the absence of an effective machinery for peaceful arbitration, steps must be taken to defend these ideals if the necessity arises. Their affirmation is in a sense a challenge which sheer force of circumstances might compel a foreign nation to take up and contest How would Mr Holland, whose party stands for these ideals, propose to deal with such a challenge?—“The Dominion,” Wellington. Limiting Armaments. In Lord Cecil's opinion there is no need to view with disappointment the work of the Preparatory Commission on disarmament. It has achieved the mayir part of t-he task set when it assembled. A scheme for the reduction and limitation of armaments has been drawn up. There remains the insertion of figures setting out the detailed limits to which the respective Powers will be asked to give consent. These detailed schedules will form, of course, the crux of the whole agreement. They will show how many military effectives each Power may maintain, how much money it may spend on its various forces, what stocks cf munitions and potential war material it may hold, what part of its existing naval and air armaments it may retain, and so on. Agreement on these will not be easy to reach, and the Commission is not vet out of the wood. But where progress so promising has been made there is room to hope that the completion of the Commission’s task will be safely reached. —“ New Zealand Herald,” Auckland.