BRITISH NAVY ESTIMATES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 374, 4 March 1937, Page 5

BRITISH NAVY ESTIMATES

HUGE INCREASE

MILLIONS OF POUNDS.

Full Implementation Of 1936 Programme.

Press Association—Copyright.

Received 2 p.m

London, March 3.

The Navy Estimates amount to £105,065,000, an increase of £23,776,000, £27,000,000 of which is to be raised by loan. The chief increase is for

new construction, totalling £14,033,000 due, not only to the commencement of a larger programme, but also to the full implementation of the 1936 programme. The modernisation of capital ships, increase of personnel and the repairing of deficiences of stores and material account for £9,081,000, while extra naval aircraft will cost £516,000.

It is revealed that the addi-

tions to the personnel amount to 11,000 to the present total of 112,000. The new construction consists of three battleships of the King George type of 35,000 tons, armed with 14-inch guns; two aircraft Learners, five cruisers, of 8000 tons, two cruisers of 5300 tons, : ;-16 destroyers, seven submar-.-zines, and 42 smaller craft.

The programme is larger by one destroyer and one submarine than the 1936 plan, which itself was double that of previous years.

A memorandum by Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of the Admiralty, explains that pending ratification of the 1936 London Naval Treaty, the qualitative limitations thereof are being observed, but there is no longer any quantitative limitation. Ratification of the 1936 Treaty has been held up by negotiations covering bilateral agreements with Russia and Ger-

many concerning, the clarification of the position regarding 14-inch guns for capital ships. It is hoped that satisfactory conclusions will soon be achieved.

The extra naval personnel cost is £8,659,000, material cost £11,464,000, and contract work £32,056,000. Large repairs are being undertaken for the battle-cruisers Warspite, Valiant, Queen Elizabeth, and Renown.