GIFTS FROM BRITAIN.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 200, 17 August 1921, Page 5

GIFTS FROM BRITAIN.

SHIPS AND WAR MATERIAL. PARLIAMENT NOT CONSULTED. London, Aug. 16. The report of the sub-committee on public accounts issued to-day, says it is clearly a serious matter that worships should bo given away without the consent oi Parliament, “We note that the Encounter, with guns and stores, and three minesweeping sloops, valued at £/3,UU(J each, and two submarine engines, with spares, were all thus given to Australia, also two 5 class submarines to Canada. “i’rom the army account we find that surplus noil'marketable stores, valued at £2,OUO,GOU when new’, were handed over to Poland gratis, with the Treasury’s sanction. Some £17,000,060 worth of stores, in addition to cash, amounting to £6,500,000 were similarly given to Russia. Also, 50 surplus aeroplanes were given to Greece.” The committee adds: “No doubt during the war it may not always have been possible to await Parliamentary sanction, ffut the whole of the above gifts were made long after the armistice .’’ —(A. and N.Z.;