THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9167, Issue 9167, 16 March 1910, Page 2

THE NAVAL ESTIMATES.

BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) LONDON, March 15.

Mr MoKenna, speaking in Committee on" the Navy Estimates, said these were neither excessive or insufficient. Two of the five additional Dreadnoughts would be in the dockyard slips and laid down in January, and the remainder under construction would be likewise laid down in January. He expressed the Government s gratification at having two great Australasian Dominions with a national navy. (Cheers.) The Australasian ships would be shortly begun, and completed in the summer of 1912, and would leave Europe in the autumn of 1912, when the others were ncaring completion. He added that by March, 1913, thero would be twenty Dreadnoughts, and thus throughout 1912 till March, 1913, our absolute superiority for Dreadnoughts was secured. Respecting • other classes, our position was incomparable. He did not anticipate anyserious reduction in the future estimates. Replying to Lord Charles Bcrcsford's interruption about the initiation of Dreadnoughts, Mr McKonna declared that the first British Dreadnought was begun five months after the Japanese Satsuma in 1903 He proceeded to emphasise that there had been no decrease in foreign naval programmes during the past year, and the Admiralty's estimates were framed according to what was being done abroad now and during the next two years.

Mr McKcnna, replying to questions, added that thirteen German Dreadnoughts arc now under construction, and four more for 1910-1911 will possibly be laid down in April, and be commissioned 26 months afterwards. He hoped the fact of the Ami rally providing against any contingency would not give rise to the fear that a friendly laatlon is accelerating its programme with any hostile design against us. Mr McKenna admitted that the dockyard slips had been idle between September and January, but remarked that urgent need for more ships had not then been proved. Mr A. H. Lee. Civil Lord of the Admiralty, criticised the Government for starving the shipbuilding vote. The estimates of the. United States totalled altogether fifty millions. Ho urged the Government to make the way clear for further estimates during the present session.

Mr Barnes (Labour) described the estimates as unwarranted. The Liberals had surrendered the principle of economy at the dictates of the Opposition.

Mr McKenna, correcting Mr Barnes, stated that. Germany's estimates for 19101911 were considerably in excess of those of the past year. Lord Charles Beresford feared the Government delaying the construction of five Dreadnoughts. The one bright spot was the provision of destroyers, but the fleet was not strong enough. The estimates for 1911 would be appalling. He urged a loan of sixty-five millions, spread over from twenty to thirty years, and the building of all ships required by 1914.