THE BRITISH NAVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 940, 13 July 1903, Page 2

THE BRITISH NAVY.

A LAND PURCHASE SCANDAL

EX-AUSTRALIAN GOVERNOR’S BARGAIN.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received 4.57 p.m., July l£. LONDON, July 11.

In the House of Commons, Mr Buchanan moved, and Mr Ewason seconded, the rejection of expenditure on new naval works, because the total estimate of the new naval base at Rosyth was not disclosed. • The amendment was negatived by IG4 to 73.

The second reading of the Naval Works Bill was agreed to. During the debate, Mr Robertson, member of Dundee, said regarding the Rosyth site that the Marquis! of Linlithgow was receiving £127,000 for land which was producing only £I6OO per annum in rents. This price was two and a-half times the, market value. Mr Gihson-Bowles said it was equivalent to nearly eighty, years’ purchase.

Mr Prettyman, Civil Lord of the Admiralty, said the Admiralty had engaged two experienced valuers in Scotland. The vendor also had a valuer.. The Admiralty’s valuation was £7OOO below: that of the vendors. The Marquis of Linlithgow was unwilling to sell the land, which had for three centuries been in the family, and was opposite his residence, but was willing on learning what it was required for. The bargain was fair, in view of the increasing value of land near Edinburgh. To exercise the compulsion of the Crown by resuming the land would have, been more costly. It was customary to pay thirty years’ purchase, plus fifty per cent., for land resumed compulsorily.