SINGAPORE BASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 117, 20 May 1932, Page 7

SINGAPORE BASE

NEW ZEALAND’S EFFORT KEEPING UP PAYMENTS APPRECIATION IN BRITAIN .By Telegraph—Press Association— Received May 19, 9.4 a p.m. LONDON, xuay 18. The Morning Fust congratulates Mr. Forbes in nut accepting tuc recoiumeu datums of the Economy Uomiuissioi. regarding the naval defence forces am* the contribution to the [Singapore Base which it describes as “counsel of des pair. ’ ’ The Post says: “New Zealand is struggling wisely and bravely with the storm. Her latest, gesture entitles liei to all the more sympathy from the Mother Country.” The Prime Minister (the Kight Hon G. W. Forbes) stated on Wednesday that the Government, did not intend to make any reduction in the meantime in the annual contribution towards the cast of constructing the Singapore Base. Replying to a question, he said that it was not intended in the mean time to adopt, the recommendation of the National Expenditure Commission that the annual payment should be reduced to £66,000. Mr. Forbes said his Government regarded, the completion of the Singapore Base as of the greatest importance to New Zealand, and that view had been represented to the Home authorities at the 1930 Imperial Conference. Before New Zealand signed the Naval Treaty, an assurance had been received that the work would be completed, but the question of the future defence of the base was still undecided. Mr. Forbes said that- originally New Zealand had contracted to pay £1,000,000 towards the cost of the base in annual instalments of £125,000. The annual instalments had ’ since been reduced to £100.(»‘ (). and there was no reason why a further reduction might, not be made. However, it was not intended to reduce tho amount in tho meantime, nor was it intended to reduce the total pay ment. The New Zealand Government did not wish to see the work of con struction delayed.