THE BRITISH NAVY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10592, 22 October 1910, Page 4

THE BRITISH NAVY.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Recpivcd October 21, at 3.5 p.m. London, October 20. Mr.M'Kenna, speaking at Llanthcwy, said' Mr Balfour's naval jeremiads synchronised with tlio clamour for the head of Tariff "Reform. Great Britain had reached move than a two-Power standard in first-eJass battleships. .

Received October 21, at 1.-5 a.m. London, October 21. The Admiralty has "scrapped" six battleships of the Royal Sovereign class. The vessels cost .€5,516,532. Mr Churchill," wriling to a correspondent, says he is certainly not prepared .to say that under Jin circumstances should Britain have recourse to a naval loan. The present high expense was largely due to special and peculiar c.ircuinstanr.es, some of which were not necessarily "permanent and others need not lie expected to recur except at long intervals. The exceptional estimates were no reason for delay in bringing about national insurance against unemployment and invalidity, or the making of provision for widows and. orphans. The Morning Leader says if a naval loan is decided upon, all hope of the effective cojitrol of the growth of armaments is gone. Such a precedent will supply an excuse for hanging up social reform and prove a ready means of piling an enormous burden on their successors.

The Daily News says a loan would be a disastrous policy. Britain now holds the two-Power standard, and very modest shipbuilding would suffice to maintain her supremacy.

"• The Chronicle recognises the force of Mr M'Kenna's objections to a loan for the proposed' shipbuilding, but asks. Why not apply it to permanent naval works? If the Cabinet decided on a loan, it was strange that the preparatory announcement should, be made by the Home Secretary.