IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20259, 30 July 1937, Page 9

IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

NEW ZEALAND’S INTEREST. IMPORTANCE OF NAVY. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, said to-day that he sought the frank opinion of the British authorities on the question of defence as to how the Dominions’ policy should be regulated and fit into an Imperial scheme. When the New Zealand Government had all the evidence it required It would disouss the question, making the necessary changes.

He had told the First Sea Lord that if we had to defend New Zealand alone we could not develop sufficient strength to pull a herring off a gridiron. New Zealand wanted information about the relationship of the various branches of the -services. He had made it known that New Zealand was concerned about the part the Navy would play, and the reply he had received was that the oiroumstance-s would have to decide what would be the best thing to do, but it. was common sense to suppose that the two cruisers on the New Zealand Station would remain. All that the British authorities asked was the co-operation of the British Dominions in a common scheme of defence. Mr Savage said the air was the oomlng thing, but everyone realised that the Navy was Just as necessary to-day as ever. In fact, it was more necessary. The New Zealand Government had a committee working along the lines of the Committee of Imperial Defence in England. Regarding the Singapore Base, Mr Savage said no one could say precisely what would happen in a war involving East and West, but there was no doubt that those in control in Britain realised that the -base must play a big part in the defence of the British Commonwealth.