BRITISH ESTIMATES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14885, 27 January 1914, Page 7

BRITISH ESTIMATES.

£53,000,000 FOR THE NAVY. (By Cable.—Prese Awweiation.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 25. It is nnderstood that the Navy Estimates will amount to £53,000,000, involving new taxation. ARMAMENTS AND TAXATION. Mr Charles Hobbouse, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Fpeaking at Bristol, declared that it was the wealthy people who were calling for increased armaments. He hoped that they would not regret it if Mr Lloyd George, a.s Chancellor of tho Exchequer, called upon them to pay a little more in taxation if an increase was decided upon. EXCESS EXPENDITURE. THE CAUSES REVIEWED. (Received January 26th, 8.50 p.m./ LONDON. January 26. The "Daily Chronicle" attributcG the excess of naval expenditure to unexpected acceleration of battleship construction in private yards, owing to the long stretch of fine weather in 1913 and tho decline of merchant ship building orders. It adds that one heavy item is extra repairs, and another is tho alterations in designs of ships. Oil fuel has also involved a large expenditure. Some members of tho Government believe that after 1914 expenditure will tend to decline, but meanwhile other departments will be starved. Post office developments will be arrested, and money will be tacking for a real advance of national education. COSTLY ALTERATIONS. The gun control of the cruiser Invincible is being converted from electrical to hydraulic at a cost of £] 14,000. CONFERENCE URGED. (Received January 26th. 10.25 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, January 25, The "Argus" urges Mr Asquith to summon an Imperial Naval Conference.