“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1881. BRITAIN’S DEFENCES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 384, 16 March 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1881. BRITAIN’S DEFENCES.

i The immediate interest in Britain’s defence estimates has now waned and the Imperial Government can busily plan the actual ex penditure of the money voted for the purpose in the House of Com mons. From the Parliamentary discussions and the staggering total of the finances involved in the reorganisation of Britain's defence system, two outstanding points are revealed. First is the evidence of Britain's enormous financial strength, and second, the evidence of her determination to repair the deficiencies which have been allowed to accumulate in past years.

The armament race of recent years has now included Great Britain. To-day. however, although the last entrant, she is the best equipped. While other nations have been exhausting their reresources in a bid for power, Britain’s policy has been one of financial conservation. That she is now prepared to face an expenditure within the next five years of £400,000,000 indicates the real strength and stability of her national finances. Of the expenditure of £150,000,000 during the current year, no less than £78,000,000 is to be found out of ordinary revenue. The newly-acquired borrowing powers under the Defence Loan Bill will be used only to the extent of £2 7,000,000 little more than 25 per cent, of the total. There is evidence indeed of the strength of the nation’s finances. Tk P TnC reB>se4 ynr l "- th" nt"" nolicv is --A 'o the Naw. and in this direction the of Prita-’n to be s-'-onp- once ap-ain is most obvious. While the F :.. p m»’-kirip’ tirne s ; nce t he London Naval Treaty of 1930, other Powers have been most active. The F—nch Nw.z 1070 dcLled- Italv has bm't an new fleW; the United States has achiever! tonnage parity ’■Oder the 5 5 3 oHn and suown’ority in nersonnel and aircraft; lanan b’s steadilv added to h»r fleet; and Germany, despite a?ree-mo-w. has reorganised be- whole navy on a hwhl-- e fficient basis. I he seme nroP-ress of o tbe r P owe rs anplies to land and air forces Kntam la-s lamentable From now. however, all that will be difterPq\t r monFV 'he experience and tk P determination are all ex-awh - ,or a comolete transformation of Britain’s defences, and at the to-’heolmnerial Conference further steps will be taken to .m "4t? f ? P ’' re aS a c WhoIe ’ TEe leew ~" w:l > soon -ade up and the false economy of past policies repaired’.