BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

(“Sydney Sun” Cables). TAX ON BETTING. (Received this day at 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. The House of Lords by 57 to 15 reHolutioued that taxation on betting is desirable and practicable. Lord Newton contended the system of licensing and taxation would not increase, hut diminish betting. Lord Arnold, for the Government, disagreed, because the laeihtics lor betting would increase. He declared it was not a business proposition to ask the Government to establish a machine against the strongest moral opposition to obtain a stun ol about three and a half millions. NAVY ESTIMATES. [Reuters Telegrams. I (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Mnrch 13. .. .The Navy Estimates scale ol expend) tipo has been reduted much below the 11R..1-15 standard, it being equal" to the expenditure in 1003-1, holme the expansion of the German menace. II »■ personnel is 100.5011 as enni|>aivil with 00.500 the previous year. \ Navy Estimates Menioraiiduni states the general strategic position now permits mure normal condition 1 * tluin the retention of the most modern vessels in Hume waters, which was lie-

cess-ary Ini' limnv vein's prior in t lie war, In the* Mediterranean Uvo <U*«iriiyt'i' llotilhix will hi* iepliuoil b,v more modem vessels mid the* licet in the Ml diterranea n " ill be gradual!' hrollgbl up to the following. the Atlantic fleet, Being correspondingly rodeced : battleships, ; light cruiser bi|t nitrons. lonr ; destroyer lloiillns, U<>; depot ship, nirendt carriers lor each re--111 .ship, siibiiinrine llotilhi, and submarine depot ship. Ihe naval deieliee of the Empire must depend ultimately on the active support of public opinion throughout the Empiie. 'I lie only sys|,mi of naval defence which can meet the general approval is one in which each Dominion "ill possess its own naval forces. The Admiralty heartily endorses this principle, and will do all in their power to assist in the devein] - incut of sea going navii's. It is the Admiralty’s policy to consider the service in the Dominion navies in every wv•• the same as service in the Royal Navy, from the viewpoint of promotion and advancement.