§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received proposals from the Government of Western Australia for the establishment of a second naval base in Australian waters at Albany, King George's Sound; and whether these proposals, although accompanied by generous concessions, were refused; and, if so, would he state on what grounds?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. J. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.The proposal in question has been referred to the Admiralty. The Government of Western Australia offered "to assist the Imperial authorities by granting lands for naval purposes and providing a residence for the Admiral"; but, in view of the want of depth and space in the harbour, and of the fact that at present no second naval station in those waters is considered necessary, the Admiralty were unable to entertain the proposal.