THE NAVY ESTIMATES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7078, 16 March 1910, Page 7

THE NAVY ESTIMATES

QUITE SUFFICIENT BRITAIN'S SUPERIORITY IX DREADNOUGHTS CANNOT BE QUESTIONED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 15, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. In the House of Commons jester, day, in committee on the Navy Estimates, Mr McKenna, First Lord of thtAdroiralty, said the Estimates were neither excessive nor insufficient. Two of the five additional Dreadnought*! were the ships laid down in the Government dockyards in January, and the remainder of the vessels under construction were commenced in. January. \- Tho Krst Lord expressed the Go vernment's gratification to the two great Australasian dominions for their contributions to the national Navy. (Oheers.) The Australasian ships would shortly be begun, an-d they would bo completed in the summer of 1012. They would leave Europe in the following autumn, when the smaller ships were nearing completion. Mr McKenna added: "By March, 1913, there will be twenty Dreadnoughts. Thus throughout 1912, and till March, 1913, our absolute ■, super iority in Dreadnoughts will be securo Respecting the other classes of ships our position is incomparable. Ido not anticipate any serious reduction ia Future Estimates."

Replying to an interruption by Lord Oharles Beresford about the initiation, of the Dreadnoughts, Mr MoKenna declared that the first, British Dreadnought was begun five months after Japan's Satsuma, in 1903. He proceeded to emphasise the fact that there had been no decrease in foreign naval programmes during the past year, and said the Admiralty's proposals were framed according to what wa3 being done abroad now and for the next two years. A DISCUSSION. Mr MoKenna, replying to questions, added that thirteen German Dreadnoughts were now under construction, and four more for 1910-1911 would possibly be laid down in April, and commissioned twenty-six months afterwards. He hoped the fact that the Admiralty was providing against any contingency would not give rise to the fear that a friendly nation was accelerating its programme with any hostile design against Britain. | • The" Minister admitted .that the dockyard slips had been idle between September and January, "but," he remarked, "the urgent need of more ships has nob been,- proved." Mr A. ED. Lea (Conservative) oriti> cised the Government for starving the shipbuilding vote, and said the Estimates of the United States totalled altogether £60,000,000. He urged tho •Government to make clear what further Estimates were possible during the present session. . , Mr G. N. Barnes (Labour) described the Estimates as unwarrantable. The Liberals had surrendered the principle of economy at the dictate of the Opposition. Mr MoKenna, correcting » state- j men* by Mr Barnes, stated that Germany's Estimates for 1910-1911' were considerably in excess of those for tho past year. Lord Charles Beresford (Conservative) feared the Government was delaying the construction 'of the five Dreadnoughts. The one bright spot was the provision for destroyers, but the fleet was not strong enough. The Estimates for 1911 would be appalling. He urged that a loan of £65,000,000 be raised, to bo spread over from twenty to thirty years, for the building of all the ships required by 1914. PLENTY OF WOEK NEW CONSTRUCTION FOB TWO TEAES. LONDON, March 14. The Navy Estimates are expected to provide for the employment of 200,000 men for two years. Two thousand extra are to be engaged at Poplar in broadening and lengthening the slip for the construction of a Dreadnought by the Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, and Engineering Company, and 1000 more will be taken on after April Ist. BUDGET TO BE PASSED NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT LORDS MAY DO. LONDON, March 14. In the House of Commons, replying to a question by Lord Hugh Cecil (Unionist), the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, said: '' The Government cannot give an undertaking, but intends to pass the Budget before the spring recess. This intention is not contingent on anything that may happen elsewhere." ME HEATON'S EETIEEMENT GRACEFUL TRIBUTE FROM BOTH PARTIES. LONDON, March 14. Both parties in the Canterbury electorate have requested Mr J. Henniker Heaton (Unionist) to reconsider his decision to retire at the end of the pre- '

sent Parliament, and offer to re-elect him unopposed. Mr Heaton. who is now in his sutyBecond year, has represented Canterbury in the Commons" since 18SS. Ho announced a week ago his intention to retire owinj? to ill-heajth. At tlis general election m January he was closely pressed by another Conservative, owing to some split in the eanip over the fiscal Question, tile voting being: Heaton. 1371; F. B. Ooldnev (Unionist Free Trader), 1350; U. B. 1). Woodcock (Liberal), 815.