SUPREMACY OF THE SEA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12408, 18 March 1911, Page 5

SUPREMACY OF THE SEA.

BRITISH NAVAL ESTIMATES

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, March 17. Mr McKenna said that the estimates represented the total expenditure for the year, and, moreover, t^ey included £1,300,000 for interest on, former loans. "We are paying our way. to the last shilling," he added, "and the Navy must be supreme so long as the Empire is to endure." Continuing, Mr McKenna said that he would never advise the temporary expedient of a loan to meet permanent needs. They need not begin with the five vessels of the Orion and Lion type before December of January next. The cost of the first eight Dreadnoughts would be the same as nine of the King Edward class, and the maintenance would coßt £50,000 a year less. The Orion's cost was £1,900,000, and each vessel showed an increase of £20,---000 over the earlier Dreadnoughts. The Estimates, when compared with Germany's £22,000,000, appeared to represent upwards of the two-Power standard, but £6,000,000 of the amount represented on expenditure which, m Germany's case, was embodied 'm the civil estimates. A true comparison, therefore, would be Britain £36,000,000 and Germany £22,000,000. A further sum of £2,800,000 cdruld.be deducted iri respect of the fleets Britain maiptahied m the Pacific and Atlantic, thua l'making the total £33,500,000; Mr McKenna added that the ifo&ytjtr. naval base would be ready m 1916. Mr Lee, a Unionist member, said thai the spring of 1914 would be a critical time, as we would then have 29 Dread noughts m European waters,' and the Triple Alliance would have 29, leaving no margin for accidents. The cruiser programme was lamentably; insufficient, m yieyr of the threatened privateering peril, if the Declaration were ratified. Mr O. Roberts moved as an amendment that foreign events' did not warrant the increasing expenditure, which was a menace to security. -. Mr Balfour, m a speech arousing intense interest, said he felt, like tho others, that the constantly increasing estimates were more than •a* national inconvenience, but must be endured m order .to avoid the risk of disaster. If diplomacy and soft words cotld accomplish anything, by all means let them be tried again. Meanwhile they had the facts regarding 1914' as detailed by Mr Lee; and these must be faced, besides their responsibilities m other parts of tho world. "We must maintain our supremacy m the Mediterranean," he continued, ''and no other nation has such a task." Mr McKenna, 'interposing, 'said that the Admiralty did not accept Mr Lee'a forecast as correct. (Received March 18, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 17. Mr Dillon explained that the Nationalists and Radicals were regretfully toting for the Estimates lest they should be beaten by the Government m the veto, crisis. . Mr Macnamara justified the Estimates. - " The amendment moved by Mi* Hoberts was negatived by 216 to 54.