NAVY ESTIMATE

Northern Advocate, 2 March 1926, Page 5

NAVY ESTIMATE

EXPENDITURE CURTAILED. NEW ZEALAND INTEREST. HEARTILY COMMENDED. (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, March 1. The Navy Estimates for 1926 amount to £58,100,000. This is a reduction of £2,400,000, compared with the Estimates for the current year, although the provision for new construction has been increased from £7,235,000 -to £9,083,000. Provision has been made to carry oh the new construction programme which was submitted to Parliament in July, 1925. It was originally intended that a floating dock for Singapore should be included in this programme and that it should be provided by the reconstruction of the former German dock. Experience has shown, however, that this would be impracticable. Therefore, a new dock is to be ordered. The change will hot mean any increase in the cost of new construction for 1926, although the new dock will cost more than the reconstruction of the former German dock would have cost. Present indications are that the total cost of the new construction programme will be less than was previously estimated. The reduction in the total of the Estimates is due partly to the economies of the Admiralty and partly to the adoption o'f a settled programme of. new construction over a period of years, and the favourable aspect of the international political ho'rizxn. In a memorandum attached to the Estimates, the. First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr W. Ci, Bridgeman, remarks that the New Zealand Government is showing a lively interest in matters of naval defence. It is maintaining two cruisers, and a trawler is being fitted out for New Zealand for service in mine-sweeping and training. This trawler is expected to leave England in a few days.—Reuter. *