THE NAVY ESTIMATES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 448, 16 March 1912, Page 5

THE NAVY ESTIMATES.

TWELVE MILLIONS TO BE SPENT.

MORE IP NEEDED.

By Telenraph—Preßs Association.—OopyriffHt

London, Wednesday.

In the House of Commons, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Winston Chuichill, introduced the Navy Estimates for 1912-13. The total of the Estimates , as compared with the total for 1912, is:—Total estimates, 191112, £44,392,500; total Estimates, 1912-13, £44,085,400; [decrease for 1912-13, £307,100.

The shipbuilding vote has decreased by £1,236,000, but other votes have increased by £928,900, owing to tho growing cost and increasing number of the personnel, the rise in prices, and the greater quantities of fuel due to increasing horse power. New construction will cost £13,971, 527, of which ships on the old programmes will coßt £12,067,727. The beginning of ships on the new programme will absorb the balance, £1,903,800. The new prorgamme includes: — Large armoured ships, 4; light armuored cruisers, 8; destroyers, 20. There will also be a number of submarines. The personnel of the navy will be increased by 2000. The total cost of the new programme when completed will be £12,474.400. The total cost of the 1911 programme is £13,200,000 The proportion of the new programme to be met in the coming year is larger than usual. This enables the whole of the torpedo destroyers to be begun immediately. Mr Churchill stated that the Estimates had been framed on the assumption that the existing naval construction programme of the Powers will not be increased. Otherwise it will be necessary to present Supplementary Estimates.