BRITISH NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 9

BRITISH NAVY

ESTIMATES PUBLISHED

REDUCTIONS EXPLAINED

British Official Wireless. (Received 7th March, 11 a.m.)

EUGBY, 6th March,

The Navy Estimates published toBay show a considerable reduction. In a statement accompanying, the Estimates the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, says that a substantial decrease in the total estimates is due mainly 'to the reduction which the Government has felt justified in making in the shipbuilding programmes of 1928 and 1929. As to future shipbuilding the Government has decided not to formulate any proposals until', the results of the Naval Conference are known and fully considered. No provision is included, therefore, in the Estimates for commencing any further new construction in_ 1930. _ As soon as the Government is in a position to inform Parliament of its intentions a statement will be made on the subject, and if necessary a supplementary estimate will be presented. Mr. Alexander points out that reductions have only been rendered possible by operating on every branch of the service with the object of curtailing expenditure. Of the causes operating in a contrary sense he mentions the Singapore Base main engineering contract. Although no new commitments are being entered into pending the result of the Naval Conference, it, has been found that it would not be economical to retard the'work contracted for and in accordance with the terms of the contract considerably larger payments will have to be made in 1930 than in the current year.