SEA-ARMAMENT EXPENDITURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 291, 12 May 1914, Page 4

SEA-ARMAMENT EXPENDITURE.

Mr Peicival A. Hislam, an author of several works on naval subjects, in an article in a London newspaper, approaches the sea-armament expenditure from a new standpoint. By way of showing that nearly the whole of the money spent on the British Navy cpmes back to some form or other lie analyses the original Estimaics for 1913-14 and points out that the number of ollicers and men provided for '' is 146,000, who are kept in full employment for the year at a cost of £8,399,200 for wages and £2,930,000 for victualling and clothing. "On the building and equipment of ships," the writer adds, "a total sum of £20,537,000 is being spent, and as 70 per cent, of this is the cost of labor, it follows that 178,000 men, at an average of £2 a week, are being employed for twelve months. Naval works—the construction of, docks, depots for oil fuel, and items of a similar nature—account for another three and a-half millions, the greater part of which,goes to navvies and to men employed in the building trade; and by far 4he major part of the balance of five millions is accounted for by pensions, half-pay to officers and the maintenance of the Royal Naval Reserve. All told, it is unlikely that the Navy Estimates at their present ■ level provide for the employment of less than 350,000 men and youths, while there are additional thousands who receive various amounts in the shape of pensions and retainers. This is a phase<of the subject which is too frequently lost sight of by 'those who denounce naval expenditure as sneer 'economic waste.'" This certainly is making-the best of a bad job. Those 350,000 men could be 'employed on something more solidly and permanently useful to humanity than battleships if only the nations could be persuaded to listen to reason. Meanwhile mankind's temper i 8 frail, and fighting ships must be built and scrapped, and built and scrapped again in order that the peace of the world may be maintained. ' *