COST OF DEFENCE

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18074, 16 May 1924, Page 8

COST OF DEFENCE

MILLION ESTIMATE COVERS ALL ARMS. CRUISERS ARE ON LOAN. /FBISS ASSOCIATION TSUOBAM.) WELLINGTON, May 15. The Prime Minister, speaking at Auckland on Saturday, remarked that the Dominion's expenditure on defence would soon be £1,000,000 a year, but there is an impression abroad that when making this statement, Mr Massey was referring to naval defence alone. In the course of an interview to-day, Mr Massey mado it clear that his remarks had reference to both naval and land defence. "Some people thought, when I mentioned the cost, that I was speaking of naval defence," he said. "I was speaking of the total cost of defence, both naval and military. I said that in all probability it would reach £1,000,000 within a year or two, and was not very far short of that now. A million pounds for a population like New Zealand's is not at all a bad contribution."

Mr Massey also cleared up the misapprehension under which some people labour with respect to the cost of naval defence. At the present time , New Zealand bears the cost of the maintenance of a cruiser which forms a unit of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and Mr Massey has stated that, at some time in the future, another cruiser may also bo' obtained, and, later on, possibly-a third. New Zealand does not buy these cruisers, or pay the cost of their construction, as some people think. The Dominion's expenditure is merely on maintenance. Cruisers' Maintenance.

"The' cruisers are practically loaned to us by the British Government, on the understanding that, as long as they serve the purpose, there will bo no interference in that respect," said Mr Massey, ''and'thnt the British Government will not take them away. Wo pay maintenance. The cost of maintenance for H.M.S. Dunedin, which is about to become the flagship of tho, New Zealand Division, will be between £250,000 and £300,000 per. annum. I think, however, that the cost will be less thaf that of; the Chatham, which is proceeding to the East Indie's, because the complement of the TUmedin is 100 men less, and the Dunedin is an oil burner, whereas the Chatham uses coal.

"If we go in for another; cruiser, naval defence will probably cost about £500,000 a year. When the time comes when we think it our duty to take over another cruiser, she will be a vessel like the Danae of the Dauntless, which are sister ships of the Dunedin."

Mr Massey added that the arrangement under which New Zealand work? Ed in regard to naval defence enabled the British Government to withdraw some of the' smaller cruisers which it had out in these waters.