SINGAPORE BASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1925, Page 3

SINGAPORE BASE.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION THE FLOATING DOCK. LONDON, March 8. Regarding the announcement that the Admiralty is sending out a huge floating dock to Singapore, the question arises as to whether this does not supplant the idea of building a graving dock. Lord Curzon significantly announced in the House of Lords on liareli 4 that the construction of a graving dock had so far not been decided on. The possibility that it will not be built in the near future is strengthened i\- his statement that U.o estimates for the next three years will provide only £809,000 for Singapore This would be a mere bagatelle towards permanent works costing ten millions. It is understood that the Admiralty is influenced hy the fact that the reduced number of large ships under the Washington Treaty, only a portion of which are likely to be stationed m the Pacific, a floating dock, which would be available in a few months, compared with the nine years required to complete a graving dock. The present trend of opinion recalls the naval aichitect’s discussion '.cabled on June 25th, 1921.) The War Office’s decision to station •i white garrison at Singapore recalls | an unpleasant war time mutiny of the Indian troops stationed there.