IMPERIAL DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 247, 30 July 1937, Page 3

IMPERIAL DEFENCE

CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN. THE PART OF NEW ZEALAND. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 29. In an interview to-dav, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said that while he was in Loudon he sought a frank opinion, from the British authorities on the question of defence, and as to how the Dominion’s policy should be regulated to fit into the Imperial scheme. When the New Zealand Government had all the evidence it .required it would discuss the question of making the necessary changes. Mr Savage said he had told the First Sea Lord that if we had to defend New Zealand alone we could not develop sufficient strength to pull a herring olf a gridiron. New Zealand wanted information about the relationship of the various branches of the services. He had made it known that New Zealand was concerned about the part the Navy would play. The reply he received was that circumstances would have to decide what would be the best thing to do, but it was commonsense to suppose that the two cruisers on the New station would remain. Their place would be in New Zealand waters. All that the British authorities asked was the co-operation of the British Dominions in a common scheme of defence. Mr Savage said that air defence was the coming thing, but everyone realised that the Navy, was just as necessary to-day as ever. In fact, it was more necessary. The New Zealand Government had a committe working along , the lines of the committee of Imperial defence at Hiome. Regarding the Singapore Base, Mr Savage said that none could say precisely what would happen in a war involving East and West but there was no doubt that those in control at Home realised that the 'base must play a big part in the defence of the British Commonwealth.