BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8373, 7 March 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

NAVAL ESTIMATES. Received March 6, 9.3 p.m. LONDON, March 5. Mr E. Robertson, explaining the naval estimates, stated that the.Admiralty believed that the present programme would adequately maintain the "two power" standard. Russia, France, and Germany, together, had added to their tonnage 1,108,280 tons in a decade, while Great Britain had added 1,132,205 tons. The cost per ton was: —Great Britain, £8&; Russia, £93 ; Germany, £97; France, JEI24.

Received March 6, 10.54 p.m. LONDON, March 6. Mr Robertson showed that Great. Britain's "two-power" standard would not be endangered for the next three and a half years. Mr A. Balfour expressed the hope that when the time of trial came the Government would have the strength and courage to propose, , anc ] the House of Commons the patriotism to support, any sacrifice that maybe required to make Britain safe against any combination of any two Powers in the world. These words were very warmly cheered. Not the least emphatic of the cheers and assent emanated from the benches immediately behind the Government. Mr Balfour at first thought that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was not amongst those cheering, but the latter immediately corrected the impression, and emphasised, regarding the proposals for lesser disarmaments, that Great Britain had no sinister purpose or desire to force any Power to reduce its armaments. THE COLONIAL PREMIERS.. i, Received March 6, 10.46 p.m. LONDON, March 6. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, informed Mr Henniker Heaton that to invite the Colonial Premiers to address the House of Commons from the Bar or Chamber itself would be contrary to precedent and usages. It was not possible or expedient to accede to the suggestion.