DEFENCE PLAN

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1933, Page 6

DEFENCE PLAN

ACTIVITY IN COMMONWEALTH,

INCREASED EXPENDITURE,

,S\ janEY,

April 17.

The Commonwealth Government seems at Uvt to have become impressed with the need of strengthening the defences of Australia and there is keen interest in the report that discu'isioiis are proceeding with the British Government on the basis of a £7,000,000 plan. The idea, it is said, is to bring the defences of the Commonwealth up to minimum requirements over a period of seven years without infringing any of tlio disarmament obligations. The plan involves complete rearming of the, Australian coastal defences.

If the is adopted the Commonwealth Parliament will be a-deed to approve in the estimates for 1933-34 enough additional expenditure to rearm the forts at- Albany, Sydney, and Newcastle—the three vital points —with IGin. guns of the latest typo. It is said that the Australian authorities were impressed wth the fact that Honolulu has been rearmed recently with gulp of this type. At present the Australian ports would he outranged by any attacking fleet armed with modern naval giutf.

NO DETAILS YET

The Minister for Defence '(Sir George Pearce) gaveutha find hint of what was intended, but he has been very careful so far to avoid'giving-the' details-. ypHe said: “I hope ''th| Australia will jlie in a position to" pro vide more money for defence next-year. It is often forgotten that Australia has made substantia! progress since the O war in one avenue of defence preparation—the manufacture of munitions. This is a most hnpoitant adjunct to the fighting forces.”

j In , consultation with the Navy, Army, and Air Boards, Sir George lias been busy with the work of preparing the defence estimates, but it : is believed that the task is now alj most punpSotoc?. The £1,000,000 a ! year which the taxpayers will be asked to provide for defence will lie additional to the £3,600,000 now spoilt annually. In recent years nothing has I been spent in - replacing the wastages in equipment. Even the additional amount will not-bring Australia back Ltofthe. .defence expenditure of 19291 Attho beginning of- the financial stringency the Seullin Government cut defence expenditure-Oy £1;000.000 a year and later bv another £500.000. The present Government has retained those cut.-! anil actually increased them by £IOO,OOO ■

THE NAVAL ASPECT. The Navy Board' -has urged that a cruiser squadron, woiking in coil-.

junction < with Australian defended .ports, is the -miuinnim-yrecittircd for i safety. . It lias becui suggested that Australia . will borrriw, three or even four cruisers, fronii 1 Great Britain. .These would Cmnberra. Despite- high cost of shipbuilding in Australia, it is suggested .that the Commonwealth will decide to build ae cruiser of its own at Cockatoo Dockyards in Sydney. Negotiations are also proceeding for the loan or gift of four destroy-

ers to replace the seaplane-carrier, Albatross. The plan makes no provision for ‘Submarines.. Aer.ial defences will lie-amply provided for in the new plan.