DEFENCE OF PACIFIC.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 March 1926, Page 9

DEFENCE OF PACIFIC.

Labour View Of Singapore. APPEAL FOR AGREEMENT. By Cable—Press Association —Copyrlirbt. Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 24, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, March. 23. In the House of Commons, during a debate on the Navy Estimates, Major Amnion (formerly Under-Secre-tary to tho Admiralty) r.skcd why the floating dock at .Singapore was being completed before the graving dock, as was iir.st intended, and why they were not using the old German dock. Commander Burney (Conservative Member for Uxbridge) asked in view of the Imperial Conference, was it not possible for the Labourites to reach an agreement with tho Ministry on Singapore, so that tho Dominion representatives would realise that even with a change of Government their defence would he safeguarded.

Lieut.-Commander the iron. J. M. Renworthy (Liberal Member for Central Hull) urged that it was net too late for the Admiralty to reconsider its policy and base the Pacific Fleet on Sydney, instead of Singapore. The Rt. Hon. W. C. Bridgeina’i (First Lord of the Admirnliy) explained that it was easier to send out a new floating dock in sections than to tow the old German dock. Commander Burney declared that tho Labour Government's abandonment of Singapore base, simultaneously .villi increasing the Air vote for the defence of Britain, created an impression ill the Dominions that tho House of Commons was willing to vote money for the defence of England at the expense of weakening the defence of the outer Empire.