DOMINION’S NAVAL BASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2609, 21 July 1923, Page 2

DOMINION’S NAVAL BASE.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

NORTH OF AUCKLAND FAVOURED. „ Wellington, July 19. Amongst the questions asked in the House of Representatives today was one referring to the suggestion for a naval base at Auckland, to which Mr Massey replied that it was not the intention of the Government to establish a naval base at Auckland, although -for several good and sufficient reasons that port had been made practically the headquarters of the Chatham and Philomel. Later in the afternoon Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence, said that he did not think the Marlborough Sounds were suitable for a naval base in New Zealand. At one time lie had thought so, but with fuller information lie had come to the conclusion that the base should not he at Pieton, Wellington, or even at Auckland. It should be further north than Auckland, probably at the Bay of Islands. If a suitable place could be found at the North , Cape, it should be established there. Any enemy ,coming to attack New Zealand v. Hid come from the north and it was.,our business to get to that "enemy a‘s 'soon as possible, as far north as a suitable place could be found.

Mr Wilford: You are giving the enemy information in advance. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes said he did not think anything he was saying was likely to alter the plans of an enemy. They p wpuJi\j>rohably think he was -endeavouring to mislead them.