SINGAPORE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1924, Page 3

SINGAPORE NAVAL CONFERENCE.

DOMINION REPRESENTATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. In view of the general situation in the Pacific and the expectation that ihe British Government will proceed with the construction of the Singapore base, great importance is attached to the Naval Cnnl'ereure and the concentration of fleet units which is to takeplace at Singapore next February for the pappose of discussing strategical problems. important as the conleiem e "ill be. however, the .Minister of Del Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, stated lu-dav. that none of the decisions readied would be binding 011 New Zealand until they were lirst ratified by Parliament. In this respect the Naval Conference decisions would be similar to those of the Imperial Conference. The New Zealand division of the Navv will be represented at tin- conference by the Naval Advisor to the Government, Commodore Alistair Beal, and during his absence Commander Stopford will take command of 11.M.5. Dunedin, the flagship of the New Zealand division. 'l’he conference is to be one ot remor offaers and the Admiralty particularly asked tliat tlie senior naval oflicer on tin* New Zealand station should attend to participate in the discussions. Unfortunately the New Zealand division of the Navy will not he represented by a fleet unit. 11.M.5. Dunedin only recently returned Imiu Australian waters, where she earned out exercises with the Australian Navy, and she will he due, towards the middle of next year, to go on the usual South Sea islands patrol cruise. As there is a natural desire on tlyj part of tlie people at the seaport towns to see the Dunedin from time to time, m view of her recent Australian cruise both the members of the Government and the naval stall’ agreed that it "as inadvisable that the ship should be absent from New Zealand waters lor an> lengthv period. Tt is expected that New Zealand s second cruiser, of simitar typo 0 11.M.5. Dunedin, will he on this station some time next year. Sir Heaton Rhodes admitted that had the Dominion a second cruiser at the present juncture, the question of the New Zealand naval division s representation at Singapore 111 T«S>ruarv would have been solved. The possibility of the Singapore eon-re,-,-nee agreeing to recommend the holding of occasional combined n., 1 - oeuvres by British warships on Chin., East Indies. Australia ami New Zealand stations was mentioned to •

lleaton Rhodes. The Minister remarked that uu Commodore would not be in a position to commit himself to anv such nrrangolll(.„t. owing to the decision ot the conference being subject to Parliamentary ratification. Moreover the movements of the New Zealand ri p » peace time were < outre, led by Uu <• >- 'vernincut. but be readily ai m.t ed the supreme value winch would att.u li to combined exercises. That had boon . - tested by the suecess which bad attended the mirtideation ot Chatham and 11.M.5. Dunedin with the Australian Navy in squadron woik.• - snirit of competition as between J<b P and ship, was aroused and t " which this had in increasing ellniemy

was obvious. , , Sir lleaton Rhodes suggested that the time might come when vosse s n the British China squadron would visit these waters Joccasioually. Then, no doubt, opportunity would ho taken to e'lrrv out combined exercises with the ship's of the New Zealand division.