BIG INCREASE IN NAVAL COSTS

Southland Times, Issue 23140, 5 March 1937, Page 7

BIG INCREASE IN NAVAL COSTS

ADDITIONS TO FLEET THREE BATTLESHIPS AND SEVEN CRUISERS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, March 3, The Navy Estimates show a total of £105,065.000, an increase of £23,776,000 over last year’s estimates and supplementaries. However, in accordance with the policy embodied in the Defence Loans Bill, £27,000,000 will be provided towards the total by issues from the consolidated fund, with the result that the net sum for 1937 to be found from the revenue for the Navy will be £78,065,000. The largest increase over last years provision is for new construction, and amounts to £14,033,215. The increase is due not only to the commencement of an appreciably larger programme of building but also to full annual provision for the 1936 programme, which itself was more than double the Programme of the immediately preceding years. The other large increase is £9,081,985 for maintenance of the Fleet, including the modernization of capital ships, large repairs, an increase in personnel, and the making good of deficiencies m stores and material reserves. There is an additional increase of £516,500 for additional aircraft other than for new construction, and the maintenance of the Fleet Air Arm, and an automatic increase for the noneffective services of £144,300. Provision is made for an addition ot nearly 11,000 to the personnel of the Fleet. The income is necessitated by increased programmes of new construction for 1936 and 1937, including expansion of the Fleet Air Arm in the principal categories. It is expected that the naval base at Singapore will be ready for general use in die financial year 1939. The expenditure up to the end of January is £5 856,000. The total estimate is £11,211,750. Destroyers And Submarines

The new construction is as follows: — Three battleships of the King George type, of 35,000 tons, armed with 14in guns. Two aircraft carriers. Five cruisers of 8000 tons. Two cruisers of 5300 tons. Sixteen destroyers. Seven submarines. Forty-two smaller craft. The programme is larger by one destroyer and one submarine than 193 b, which itself was double the previous years. _ j A memorandum from the First Lora of the Admiralty (Sir Samuel Hoare) explains that pending the ratification of the 1936 London Naval Treaty the qualitative limitations of the treaty are being observed, but there is no longer any quantitative limitation. The ratification of the 1936 treaty is held up by negotiations for bilateral agreements with Russia and Germany for clarification of the position of Win guns for capital ships. It is hoped that satisfactory conclusions will soon be achieved. The extra personnel will cost £8,659,000, material £11,464,000 and construction work £32,056,000. Laige repairs are being undertaken for the Warspite, the Valiant, the Queen Elizabeth and the Renown. A committee composed of representatives of the Admiralty, the Board of Trade and ship owners has been formed to take measures necessary to ensure the least possible dislocation of British shipping in war time.