NAVAL ESTIMATES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18956, 5 March 1936, Page 5

NAVAL ESTIMATES

NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS FIRST LORD TO EXPLAIN BUILDING OF CRUISERS PROGRAMME ACCELERATED (Eire. Tel. Copyright—United Press A>“*i>.) (Reed. March f>, noon.) LONDON, March 4.

The naval estimates do not. provide for a new construction programme which will be the subject of supplementary estimates, which are to be presented to Parliament later. These total £69,930.000, compared with £60,050,000 last, year, while £4,045,000 is required to make progress with construction already authorised. Viscount Mon sell, the First Lord of the Admiralty, is explaining in a supplementary paper that the construction of tlie 1933-34 cruiser squadrons is proceeding more rapidly than was anticipated. There is an increase of £1,082,000 in the expenditure on the. tlc.et ait arm, excluding the cost oi aircraft for new ships This will he devotee! im.inlv to the re-equipment and maintenance of existing flights. Twentynine capital ships and cruisers are now fitted with catapults and 37 aircraft .are embarked on vessels so fitted.

The provision for the maintenance of the fleet, including defence against air attack, is increased to £3,935,000.

Viscount. Monsell states that it. is of vital importance that there should he close co-operation between the three fighting services.