BRITAIN'S PROBLEM.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17166, 24 March 1927, Page 5

BRITAIN'S PROBLEM.

■Presa Association—

( AuLtr^li-.n tnd K.Z. Pre-s- Asboeiaticn.)'

EARL ASQUITII'S YIEWS.

(Cttbls —

-CopyrirfU.)'

LONDON, March 22. The Earl of Asquith and Oxford, supporting the motion demanding more drastic economy, said that no grcat reductions were possible for some years in the Pensions Department, education and other social services. Economists were bound at present to confine their surgical efforts to £160,009, 000 devoted ta Imperial defence .and national administration services. Recommending the Government's participation in President Coolidge's conference, he hoped that this, as well as Loid Cccil's efforts at Geneva, would produce good results. In the nieantime, he appealed strongly to the Governmcnt to call at halt in cruiser consti-uction. This could he done . with "perfect safety as, according j to the present programme, Britain ! at the end of 1928 would have 75 i cruisers, compared with United States' 2 and Japan's 32. There was no justification for an increased personnel in the War Office or Adciiiiralty in view of the reductions