DEFENCE VOTES BRITISH SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 13

DEFENCE VOTES

BRITISH SERVICES

APPROVAL BY COMMONS LABOUR AND THE NAViY ME. CHURCHILL'S REBUKE By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received February 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 25 The House of Commons last evening discussed the supplementary Navy Estimate of £4,850,000. Lord Stanley, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, said the vote included provision for the beginning of the •construction of seven destroyers to be known as the Tribal class. The Admiralty had watched with concern the construction of large foreign destroyers. France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States to-day had destroyers ranging from 1600 tons to more than 2000 tons, the latter approaching the cruiser class. The Government had decided to amend its plans and to build destroyers of 1850 tons instead of the intended repeat order for vessels of the 1934 tvpe, namely 1350 tons. The increase conformed to the London Naval Treaty. A trial order also had been placed for six motor torpedo-boats. In order to keep abreast of modern developments, a considerable number of new works'had been started, including an anti-aircraft gunnery training establishment at Portsmouth. Other expenses arose from the presence of the Fleet in the Mediterranean, including the purchase of 20 trawlers. Mr. A. V. Alexander (Labour — Hillsborough, Sheffield) moved a reduction of the vote. He said the Estimate brought the naval pro\ision for the vear to £65,000,000, which was the largest naval expenditure for 14 years. ' 'We are beginning an armaments race from to-night," said the member. "It represents progress toward national bankruptcy." Mr. Winston Churchill described Mr. Alexander's speech as deplorable. The British Fleet in the Mediterranean had been in a condition approximating "strained relations" with Italy for months. Labour members in the previous debate had strenuously urged sanctions, yet they were opposing the expenditure necessary for putting the Fleet in a condition of preparedness. The • motion for a reduction was negatived by 285 votes to 95 and the Estimate was approved. The supplementary Army and Air Force estimates also were approved. The supplementary Estimates issued on February 17 provided for additional defence votes as follows: — Armv . • • • • • £1,350,000 Navy . • • • • • 4,850,000 Air Force . . • . 1,611,000 It was explained that the naval vote included £4,392,000 to meet the cost of additional naval personnel required in consequence of altered dispositions of the Fleet in connection with the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, and other special measures taken involving an addition of 3500 men. Similar explanations were given in the Army and Air Force memoranda. These together required £50,000 extra for Singapore, where work was being accelerated in the'light of the Sultan of Johore's generous Silver Jubilee gift.