REPLACEMENT ONLY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 9

REPLACEMENT ONLY

NEW CRUISER PROGRAMME COST TO BE MET BY ECONOMIES MR BALDWIN EXPLAINS Bv Telegraphs—Pres* Assn Australian and N.Z Cable . Association. LONDON, July 23. Tha Prim* Minister, in making; hiß' eagerly-expected statement on naval construction, in the House of / Commons, announced that two cruisers would be begun ih October; two in February, and three each year afterward*. 1 " f '" \ ; The Government had also decided, he said, upon .the annual construction ot nine destroyers,;: and six Submarines, and , certain' auxiliary vessels, beginning with the financial .year 1926-27, and continuing during the normal life of the' present Parliament. f . -Some of these cruisers would be of 10,000 tons, and the remainder would be< smaller and less expensive, approximately of 8000 tons, Tire Admiralty would meet the additional expense from savings under other: rheads., The Government would only ask Parliament to make additional provision this year in respect of j the commencement of the new programme if it were satisfied of the impossibility of making these savings, but it was not proposed to allow the increased . expense to constitute an addition to the total of the Navy estimates. OPPOSITION HOSTILE Reuter’s Telegram. Mr Baldwin said tho Admiralty ~. (Received. July 24, 7 p.m.) Mr Baldwin fltid the Admiralty would do its utmost to diminish the : extra cost of the new construction by ; substantial reductions in maintenance and other charges of the Navy. Moreover, a committee of three men not connected With the Government would be , appointed as soon Os possible to examine the maintenande cost, interior economy, and tho Navy s Army, and Air Forces. • There was ft' lively questioning byLabour members anti others, Mr Arthur Henderson intimating that the Opposition would give attention to the

matter on Tueaday, Mr A. A. Purcell wondering “When we will get a Go--1 vernment with courage to put the Admiralty in ita proper place.’ 1 and Commander J. M. Kenworthy asking 1 wliether ■ the. programme had been drawn Up without reference to ships being built abroad. Mr Baldwin, io replying, emphasised 1 that this was entirely a replacement ’ programme. He promised thnt detailed .explanations would be given during the debate.