PACIFIC NAVAL BASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 158, 13 October 1910, Page 5

PACIFIC NAVAL BASE.

TO BE MOVED TO AUCKLAND. SYDNEY'S DISAPPOINTMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. 6ydney, October 12. The Daily Telegraph, in a special article, states that the base of the Imperial Navy in Australasia will be removed from Sydney to Auckland in 1912. The Telegraph adds that the news will come as a surprise to many Sydney people. The change means that Garden Island will practically become the property of the Commonwealth Government, large victualling stores will be closed, the ammunition depot cleared out, and the whole station probably transferred to Auckland. The Royal Navy throughout the Admiralty establishments spends more than £300,000 annually, and this expenditure wil probably be transferred to Auckland. Admiralty House will be closed and the naval captain in charge will remove his quarters elsewhere. In place of this Sydney may be able to secure at present a Commonwealth destroyer, possibly a cruiser, and the amount of money spent here will be insignificant compared with that spent by the Royal Navy. Mr. Wade, interviewed, declared that the whole matter was news to him. He knew nothing about it.

MINISTERIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Received midnight. Melbourne, October 12. Referring to the removal of the Imperial Australasian naval base, the Minister of Defence stated that the announcement that the squadron would cease to remain in Sydney after the Australian unit was created, was made at the Imperial Conference in London. As far as he remembered, it was decided that British boats would not remain in Australian waters, but provision was to be made for them to dock and other work when on visits to Australia. New Zealand's position was different to Australia's. New Zealand was contributing a cruiser to the China division and some destroyers to be maintained on the New Zealand coast. Tliey would be under Imperial co»trol. THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CABLEGRAM. By Telegrapti.—rrcss Association. Wellington, Last Night. With reference to the cabled report that the Admiralty base is to be shifted to Auckland, the Prime Minister said he knew nothing whatever of the cable in question. "When in England at the Defence Conference," he added, "I represented that Auckland should be made the base for that portion of the Pacific Squadron which is to remain iu New Zealand. That was agreed to and Auckland is to be tfce base. The position that has arisen in cvonsequence of the Commonwealth Government having decided to establish its own navy and take over Garden Island, where the whole work of the Australasian squadron is carried out, and the position of Auckland in respect .to the future, is a matter on which I am unable to express my opinion. It is not within my province to attempt to interfere In any way between the suggested arrangements by the Home authorities and the Commonwealth Government. I have very little doubt that the British Government will see justice done to Australia. Of course the altered arrangements that have been made in reference to the navy will bring into existence altered conditions, but the fact remains that, the carrying out of the ordinary work on ships that will form the Australian fleet must he performed in Australia itself."