NAVAL DEFENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9855, 7 November 1924, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE

SECOND CRUISER FOR NEW ZEALAND.

LABOURITES DEPLORE CRITICISM

OF JAPANESE,

CONCLUDING ACT OF SESSION.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. - In moving the second reading of the Appropriation Bill Air Alassey caid one Appropriation Bill was much hko another, hut this one probably had fewer extraneous clauses than most of thorn. He explained that the most important provisions are those relating to the expenditure of £IOO,000 for the maintenance of a second cruiser, extending the benefits of the 1 übhc Service superannuation fund to officers of the Cook Islands and oaruoan Services, and an appropriafcion of £20,000 for payment to local bodies of a proportion of the Royalties on sales of timber from State forests.

Air Alassey recalled that last year Parliament had voted a sum of £ioo,000 towards the costs of the naval base afc Singapore, but the scheme was abandoned by the new British Government. Probably Singapore would now be proceeded with. He believed it would, and he hoped so. Since then, the Admiralty had advised that the proper thing for New Zealand to do instead of assisting in regard to Singapore was to provide another cruiser. If the necessary arrangements could be made the' British Government would provide the ship, though the late Government had not committed itself, in that respect, and New Zealand would maintain it. . Hr Massey expressed the opinion that the cost of maintenance would be about £200,000. This was the opportunity for New Zealand to do her duty. The Admiralty stated two cruisers could he much more satisfactorily managed than one, while they would also mean greater efficiency.

Mr Forbes (Hurunui): Will the extra cruiser be kept stationed in New Zealand waters all the time? Mr Alassey replied that her headquarters would be in New Zealand waters. o‘iir responsibilities, he pointed out, had increased greatly since ten years ago. They extended almost, from the Equator to the South Pole, and included Samoa, the CookGroup, several British islands scattered over the South Pacific, the Union Islands and the Ross -Sea. i Air Forbes asked if the Dominion had sufficient oil reserves to supply the cruisers.

Tlio Prime Minister replied in the affirmative, and said that the Admiralty saw no difficulty about that. He referred to the oil tanks at Devon-poi-t, Auckland.

Air Wilford said his party stood for the best means of the defence of the Empire. He quoted figures to show the heavy burden the United Kingdom was bearing in the matter of naval defence, and to show the inadequacy of the amount being contributed by the Dominions. He advocated frequent interchange of naval vessels between the various parts of the Empire! Great Britain stood far behind Japan in naval strength, and while we could not make up the difference in strength,’ we could do something in that direction. We should realise that Japan’s base was being moved nearer us all the time, and now it had approached to within a few miles north of Australia. It was perfectly plain that as wo had had to abandon Hongkong as a base as necessary for mobilisation of our fleet, a base must be established at Singapore and unless we moved Japan would get m ahead of us. There were 10,000 acres of land Held by Japan in agricultural leases and leases in perpetuity at the entrance to the Straits of Jahore very near Singapore, which Japan might make use of for the purpose of a base. Air Fraser (Wellington Central): The Japanese Government? Air Wilford: Japanese individuals. Air Fraser: Why mention the Government of Japan? Air Wilford said the _ whole of the iron and ore deposits in the Alalay States were now owned by Japan. “I am not going to go into any further details” said Air Wilford, “than to say that the Japanese are moving down this way.”

Mr Fraser said no one would he inclined to minimise the importance of t!ie question raised by the Leader of the Opposition, because there was. an Eastern problem. If it was possible to settle "it on the lines of goodwill and give and take of territory, then it should he done. He believed the greatest difficulty was with China. At tho same tira& lie believed it. was foolish to suggest sinister motives. Their heads should not be buried m the sand, for there was a . struggle for possession of Eastern iron ore and other deposits, but if the piobJem could be adjusted by mutual forbearance then that course shoucl he followed. , , Mr Holland also touched on the subject, and said he regretted that while £IOO,OOO was placed on the Estimates for an additional cruisei nothing was being done for urgent domestic problems. There was a good deal of nonsense talked about the Japanese and he deplored the speech made"'by Mr Wilford. Bismarck had adopted such methods in tho days ot the German Empire. The nations were war weary, and provided the propci steps were taken by different countries in the direction ot peace they would minimise the risk of war. Me twitted Mr AYilford as a member of the National Cabinet m sending mit warnings to the press against saying anything about the Japanese oi the presence of their worships here. Mi Holland complimented the Government on having contributed £20,000 towards the Japanese earthquake relief fund, and said it could not but have ail influence for good. Mr AVilford denied any imputation that he had said the Japanese were aggressive. Ho did not believe the w v rt< Mr Holland: What was the inferC ncc? * Mr Wilford replied that the people of japan had no say. It was the Council of the Elder Statesmen v, ho had influence with tho Emperor. Regarding the new cruiser Mi Massey in reply said that credit must be given Japan for being a loyal ally of the Empire for many years. All tho same we must do our share in the way of Empire defence. Enormous losses were incurred dining the last war because ot insufficient cruiser protection. I “ on think tho moral gesture of Ramsay MacDonald is sufficient to keep the Peace of tho woiid” declared Mi Massey. - . Mr Holland: His foreign policy was far away better than anything else Mr Atmore (Nelson): He built six cruisers. . , , Mr Massey said lie thought that should be reasonable means of defence, especially naval defence. Land defence was necessary but he thought naval defence was of more importance to the outlying portions ol the. Empire than any other forms ot cle10'The Bill was then passed m all stages with one technical amendment. . - I The House after receiving several reports adjourned for lunch. AVhen the House resumed a message was received from the Legislative Council to tho effect that they had passed the Appropriation Bill. Mr Speaker then proceeded to Government House to procure his Excel-, lency’s signature to the measuie. On returning at 4.50 Mr Speaker announced that his Excellency had been pleased to accord Royal assent to'the measure.—P.A.