THE COST OF THE SCHEME

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 62, 14 March 1911, Page 5

THE COST OF THE SCHEME

SPREAD OVER TWENTY YEARS

(Received March 13, 9.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 13.

The first era will be occupied in obtaining the manning of the fleet unit already ordered, with the addition of the depot vessel, 3 submarines, 6 torpedo; destroyers; and providing harbor training establishments, the erection of a naval barracks and college in Sydney, wireless stations in Sydney, Fremantle, Brisbane. Thursday Island, and Port Western, and ,the establishment of depots and gunnery and torpedo schools in Sydney and Port Western. The Admiral urges tjae necessity of establishing railway, communication between Port Darwin, Fremantle, a-Bd the centres of population, which would be required for the maintenance of the fleet; also the necessity for a-rrangsments for merchant ships to meet the _needs of war-time as fleet auxiliaries. ,

The cost of the completed fleet is estimated in non-recurring charges at £23,290,000, of .which £3,500,000 is already spent or voted, leaving a balance to be spread over twenty years. The recurring charges arc set down at £152,000. After 1933 the annual expenditure required to replace worn-out ships will be £1,242,000. . , He also recommends that during the twenty years £5,000,000 in addition to the amounts, mentioned be expended on replacement of ships. The annual cost of the personnel will be £516^000 at the commencement of the four eras, growing to £2,226,000 at their determination. It is suggested that for the first ssven years, £3,000,000 per annum be voted for naval defence, next five years £4,000,000, the succeeding five years £4,500,000, and for the fourth era £5,000,000 per annum.

The report does not cover confidential recommendations.