NAVAL ESTIMATES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1931, Page 5

NAVAL ESTIMATES

SOME REDUCTIONS SHOWN. [United Press Association.—P j Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] (Received this clay at 1.0 p.in.) LONDON, March 5. The Navy Estimates total a sum of Coi,iiU3,ooo, a reduction of £342,C00 on last year. -Mr Alexander in an accompanying statement, points out that while the net. sat ing is £342.000. the gross total is £I.SHI,OOO less, because the appro-, riiitions had been reduced by £1,4?(>,OOu. The Naval personnel is being reduced 3.500 to 95,000, estimates this saving will be about half a million, through lower prices and changes in the scale pay varying according to the cost of living. Government’s action in curtailing 1928-29 programmes’ continues to affect the provision for new construction which is £241,000 below last year. -Mr Alexander parenthetically added that this also was less by four thousand than if the original programmes had been carried out. London treaty provision relating to lhe earlier scrapping of capital ships Imd been the mam factor in effecting this saving in the cost of personnel amounting to £4(10,000, In the four year period from 1028, the naval personnel will actually he reduced hv 10,000. The principal ill-* crease is £515,000 for material£l,772,ooo is being spent on Singapore Base, for the year ending 3T March and £784,000 is provided for 3031-32 leaving £4,361,000 necessary to complete the scheme.