THE NEW CRUISERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19107, 28 February 1924, Page 7

THE NEW CRUISERS

CONSTRUCTION OPPOSED* A LIBERAL MANIFESTO. - Prasa Association—By Telegraph— Copyri*h» LONDON, February 26. A score of well-known Liberal members 1 of the House of Commons have issued a manifesto urging reconsideration of thd project to lay down new cruisers and destroyers as unnecessary, economially disastrous, and morally wrong. They contend i that Britain’s action would create mistrust abroad and would endanger the work of the League of Nations. They assert that four new cruisers have already been built for the Royal Navy, and they point j out that Japan has reduced her naval estimates by 45,000,000 yen.—Reuter. . In the House of Commons on February 21, a volley of criticising questions—*mostly from the Liberal benches—fol- ! low»d the announcement by Mr C. Ammon (Under-Secretary to the Admiralty) that the Government had decided, in view of the serious unemployment, to proceed with the laying down of five cruisers, three of which would be built in the Jttoyal Dockyards, and two destroyers. Tenders would , be invited immediately, so that the work could proceed as soon’as Parliament sano- | tioned the expenditure.