NAVAL DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1920, Page 5

NAVAL DEFENCE.

AUSTRALIA'S SCHEME, INCREASED EXPENDITURBj '~ Bj Tel«r»ph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 24, 1.40 a.m. Melbourne, Sept. 24. In the House of Representatives, Sir Joseph Cook (Federal Premier) tabled the Navy estimates, wiich provide for the expenditure of £3,265,878, compared with £1,989,485 in 1913-14. This total provides for the care and maintenance of the fleet, which has increased by 20 vessels since 1914, and an increase in the personnel. The huge indebtedness of the Commonwealth had to be considered in framing the estimates, and it had been necessary to reduce the strength of the fleet to sis submarines with a parent ship, six new destroyers, two sloops, one light cruiser, and one training cruiser. Of the remaining ships the Australia and the Melbourne would be reduced to nucleus crews, the Australia becoming a gunnery and torpedo drill ship. There would-be a total of eleven ships in reserve, some of which would be exercised half yearly for a few days with the sea-going forces. The Treasurer stated that the war expenditure for the current year would amount to £3,456,000. After they paid the only remaining indebtedness to the British Government in respect of the Kctive conduct of the war, the amount of indebtedness would be £42,696,500. The total amount required for soldier settlements was estimated at £50,-000,000.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.