DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1926, Page 9

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

COST OF SINGAPORE BASE

ATTITUDE OF DOMINIONS WIDER QUESTION RAISED By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright London, Nov. 16. Upon yesterday’s little flash of frank interchanges during Mr. Brucew speech on Imperial defence, coupled with the fact, that a contract was let to-day for building the Singapore Floating dock a section of the British Press built a full blown story that the Premiers had been asked how much they were prepared to pay towards the Singapore Base. It is learned that a minor issue has. been mistaken for a major and that, as previously cabled, Downing Street has raised the whole question of a more equitable distribution of the cost of Empire defence in which the Sing** pore’s cost of £11,660,060 spread over ten years is a mere incident alongside the bulk total of the navy estimate. It is true that a suggestion has been made to the Dominions for annual contributions, to which South Africa hnd the Irish Free State are displaying a certain aloofness anil Canada a degree of hesitancy, while New Zealand and India are cordially sympathetic and Australia disposed to weigh the possibilities in the light of her own direct naval expenditure. In this connection it is gathered that Mi. Bruce’s recital of the Commonwealth defence enterprise considerably impressed the conference and rather emphasised the force of Britain’s hint that the other units might shoulder some of the burden. There is no thought, as lias been suggested, that within the next week, the Prime Ministers will sit round a table and thrash nut some scale of contributions.