HUNDRED MILLIONS NAVAL VOTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 9

HUNDRED MILLIONS NAVAL VOTE

“BRITAIN MUST BE STRONG’’ BIG PROGRAMME OF BUILDING INCREASES IN SHIPS AND PERSONNEL British Official Wireless t (Received March 6, 6.30 p.m.) 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 supplementary votes. However, in accordance with the policy and procedure 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 revenue for the Navy will be £78,065,000. The largest increase over last year's provisions is for new construction, and amounts to £14,033,215. This increase is due, not only to the commencement of an appreciably larger building programme, but also to the full annual provision for the 1936 programme, which itself is more than double the programme of the Immediately preceding years. Another large increase is £9,081,985 for the maintenance of the fleet, including the modernisation of capital ships, large repairs, the increase in personnel, and making good deficiencies in stores and material reserves. Three New Battleships There is, in addition, an increase of £516,500 for additional aircraft, other than for new construction and maintenance of the fleet air arm, and an automatic increase in the non-effective services of £144,300. Provision is made for the addition of nearly 11,000 to the personnel of the fleet, necessitated by the programmes for new construction for 1936 and 1937, including the expansion of the fleet ah’ arm. In the principal categories the programme is larger than that of 1936 by one capital ship, and smaller by one destroyer and one submarine. New construction consists of three battleships of the King George type, 35,000 tonners, armed with fourteeninch guns, two aircraft carriers, five cruisers of 8000 tons, and two cruisers of 5300 tons, sixteen destroyers, seven submarines, and forty-two smaller craft.

The memoranda of the First Lord 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 a no longer quantitative limitation. The ratification of the 1936 Treaty is held up by the negotiations for bilateral agreements with Russia and Germany for the clarification of the position regarding fourteen-lnch guns for capital ships. It is hoped that satisfactory conclusions will soon be achieved. Extra personnel will cost £8659, material £11,464, and contract work £32,056:. Large repairs are being undertaken for the Warspite, Valiant, Queen Elizabeth and Renown. A Committee composed of representatives of the Admiralty, the Board it Trade and shipowners has been formed to take measures necessary to ensure the least possible dislocation of British shipping in war time. FIRST DEFENCE LOAN HUNDRED MILLIONS MENTIONED United Press Association—Bv El «• trio Tel egrap h —Cftp yrt eh t (Received March 5, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 4. According to “The Daily Mall” the first defence loan to be issued shortly will amount to £100,000,000. SINGAPORE BASE TOTAL EXPENDITURE TO JANUARY TOTALS £5,856,000 British Official Wireies* (Received March 4, 1.10 p.m.) RUGBY, March 3. It is anticipated that the naval base at Singapore will be ready for general uii in the financial year of 1939. The expenditure up to the end of January, 1937, is £5,856,000. The total estimate is £11,211,750.