NAVAL POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1920, Page 2

NAVAL POLICY

EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT LIKELY. (Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Cabinet has been considering: naval defence in the light of Admiral Jellicoe's report, and an interesting' announcement may be expected next week. New Zealand's annual appropriation for naval defence is £100,000; but Lord Jellicoe suggested that the jSew'Zealand division of the Ear Eastern Eleet should comprise three light cruisers, six submarines, a submarine parent ship, and naval air school. The annual cost was estimated to be £357,100 in the first year, rising to £1,116,100 in five vears.

The Government is disinclined to accept the whole programme immediately owing to the heavy financial obligations arising out of the war and the need for making' up leeway in public works and housing. Therefore it proposes to adopt a portion of the scheme as an instalment. Its plans are well in shape, and part of the ultimate programme almost ready for announcement. There is a necessity to co-ordinate land defence with the naval scheme, while piwision must be made for training New Zealanders for the Navy. On the aviation side the Government is not prepared at the present juncture to launch out upon a comprehensive scheme. It will for a time rely on the war-trained aviators in the Dominion, plus the 1 development of postal aviation: on modest lines. •Finance is the great controlling factor, and the Government in accepting an instalment of Lord Jellicoe's policy has kept this well in mind.