COST OF BRITISH NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1933, Page 5

COST OF BRITISH NAVY

INCREASE IN 'ESTIMATES CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME FOUR CRUISERS INCLUDED TRIAL OF COAL OIL FUEL British Official Wireless. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, March 9. The navy estimates show a net total for 1933 of £53,370,000, which exceeds the net total in the previous year by £3,093,700. Of this increase £2,355,360 is required to make normal progress with new construction. A large part of the normal expenditure upon shipbuilding in 1932 had been deliberately retarded in the interests of economy and disarmament into subsequent years by the temporary expedient of deferring the order for the 1931 programme. The remainder of the increase provides for the automatic rise in 1933 in the total non-ef-fective votes, including a provision amounting to £295,367 for increases in retired pay, pensions and superannuation allowances. The new construction programme provides for four cruisers, one leader, eight destroyers, three submarines, three sloops, one convoy sloop; one coastal sloop and small craft. The cruisers constitute the final instalment of the replacement programme due for completion by December, 1936, under the terms of the London Naval Treaty, The estimates, restricted by the exigencies of the financial situation, do not fully provide all the potential needs of the Navy. The first Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Bolton Ayres-Mansell, in presenting the estimates said oil fuel produced from British coal was being tried in a number of ships. Fifteen capital ships and cruisers were now fitted with catapults for aircraft.