AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 234, 26 September 1908, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NAVY.

PAYMENT OF OFFICERS AND MEN. UNIFORMITY URGED. Melbourne, September 25. The Admiralty in its estimate of the cost of the personnel of the Australian Navy includes half-pay and retiring allowances of officers and pensions and gratuities to men on the assumption that the pay will be precisely the same as in the Imperial Navy. The experience of the Admiralty under the present agreement has eonvinced their Lordships that any attempt to combine a higher rate of pay in Australia with the ordinary conditions of pay and service prevailing in the Imperial Navy must be abandoned. Their Lordships recognise that the carrying out of the scheme will involve many dillieulties, but they hope that, wi'h a readmes on both sides to overcome them, satisfactory arrangements may lie concluded.

ENGLISH PRESS CRITICISM. Received 25, f1.42 p.m. London, September 25. The Chronicle says that the Admiralty very properly stipulates that in whtlime its control oi' Hie Australian navy must be alisolutc. Nothing is more certain, it -says, than that Australia will be unable for many wars to assume the sole responsibility for naval defence. Her safety depends on the British navy, and will continue «o to depend.