77 NEW SHIPS for British Fleet

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 41, 4 March 1937, Page 5

77 NEW SHIPS for British Fleet

i— Presi Awa.— Cowrricht.)

NAVAL ESTIMATES Over £100,000,000 To Be Spent INCREASE IN PERSONNEL

(By T«l«rr»pl

(Received 4, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, 'March 3. The Navy Estimates amount to £105,065,000, an increase of £23,776,000. £27,000,000 will be raised by loan. The chief increase is in new construction totaHing- £14,033,000, dne not to the commencement of a larger programme but also to full implementation of the 1936 programme. Modemisation of capital ships, increase of personnel, repairing deficiencies in stores material, and reserves acconnt of £9,031,000 while extra naval aircraft will cost £516,000. It is revealed that additions to personnel of 11,000 men bring the total to 112,000. New construction consists'of three battleships of the King George type, 35,000 tonners fermed with fourteen inch guns, two aircraft caariers, five cruisers of 8000 tons, and two cruisers of 5300 tons, sixteen destroyers, s even submarines and forty-two smaller craft. • TI© programme^ Is larger by oue defctroyer and oue 'submarine than 1936 which itself was double tio previous year's. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Samuel Hoare, in his memorandum, explains that, pending ratification of the 1936 London Naval Treaty, the qualiitative limitations fchereof ara being observed, but there is no longer quantitative limitations. Ratification of the 1936 treaty is held up by negotiations for bilateral agreements with Russia and Germany and the clariflcation of the position regarding fourteen-inch guns for capital ships. It is hoped that satisfaetory conciu•ions will soon be achieved. Extra personnel will cost £8,659,000, material £11,464,000, and contract Work £32,056,000. I,arge repairs are being undtertaken for the Warspite, Yaliant, Queen Elizabeth and Renown. A committee composed of representa--itives of the Admiralty, the Board of Trade and the Shipowners' Association has been foraied to take m^asures necessary to ensure the least possible dislocation of British shipping in war t time.