NAVAL ESTIMATES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17972, 18 March 1930, Page 8

NAVAL ESTIMATES.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. WHAT BRITAIN SHOULD DO. AN AMENDMENT MOVED. :.United Press Assn. — Elpc. Tel. —Copyright (Received March 18, 2.15 p.m.) (See Page 7.) fg • LONDON, March 17. _ j' Replying to Mr Winston Churchill s ■' criticism that the Government’s action ..■would reduce the naval constiuction (programme to less than would maintain the minimum standard that the : Government itself had proclaimed, Kenworthy said he considered the yNaval Conference was going to be a <l; terrible failure. The forces againM the Government had been too great. In 'the next few years there were bound to ;':be considerable building programmes f embarked upon if unable to arrange a ■'general five years’ building holiday. "Britain also should declare a cessation C'of her reduction policy. She could Tdo this with perfect safety. she ?• should then postpone the conference sine die and part friends. Mr A. West Russell (Conservative (Times'mouth), moved an amendment.

This House, having regard to the dependence of the Empire on th e sea routes, is of opinion that the U maintenance of adequate naval S? forces, and the cstablismcnt of |s steady building replacement prof gramme are of vital importance, u e iS argue that the Government had no (t- right to risk the defence of the K trade routes of the Empire in order v - to make a gesture before going to K the conference, the results of £ which it could not possibly foresee.