HUGE EXPENDITURE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20732, 16 February 1939, Page 9

HUGE EXPENDITURE

A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME NO AGGRESSIVE PURPOSE I CONTINGENCY OF AIR ATTACK United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Feb. 16, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15 The White Paper which Mr Chamberlain promised the House of Commons would be available in advance of the defence debate was issued tonight. It reveals that the total estimates for the three defence departments during the next financial year will be some £523,000,000 aiid the total de-

fence expenditure, including expenditure on civil defence, will be in the neighbourhood of £580,000,000. This compares with the expenditure for the three defence departments in 1937 of about £262,000,000 and in the current financial year of about £388,000,000.

The total expenditure on defence in the first three years of the quinquennium ending March, 1942, will amount to over £1,173,000,000, and the expenditure of the third year will exceed that of the second year by about £175,000,000 and will exceed the portion of the current year's defence expenditure met from revenue by as much as £307,000,000. Reason for Increase The main reason for the substantial increase in expenditure on the defence programme, it is pointed out, lies in the expense to which it lias been necessary to go to enlarge the original programme, in order to make adequate provision for defence against the contingency of air attacks. Towards the end of the statement the Government declared: ‘‘lt is everywhere recognised that British armaments have no aggressive purpose. Britain deeply deplores the need for the expenditure of these vast sums on armaments, and she already lias indicated that when other nations are prepared to consider some arrangements for the limitation of armaments this country will be prepared to play its part, but in the absence of a general reduction of armaments it is inevitable that this country should continue to take the steps necessary, in the light of present developments. for its own protection and for Hie discharge of its responsibilities elsewhere.” Good Progress Made Regarding the progress of the rearmament programme, the White Paper states that the earlier stages have now been completed. Industrial capacity has been largely increased, and new models have been designed, ! tried out, and ar«* in m*.u!urfion. | All three service departments are I now receiving armament slmvs of all ! kinds and the latest models in large 1 quantities, and production will continue on an increasing scale. Increase in Navy Tonnage * Regarding the Navy \\ i s shown that in the three financial rears before the Great War Hie average annual tonnage of the principal classes <>r warships, excluding submarines completed was 170.000 while completed tonnage hath e year ending March, 1941, will be The inclusion of another two capital ships in the 1939 programme makes nine of these vessels under

construction. Also in the 1939 programme ■will be included two destroyer flotillas and twenty escort vessels of a new type intended for the protection of shipping against submarine and air attacks. Great progress has been made in strengthening the anti-aircraft, armament of other ships of the fleet. , The production of many items for rearmament of the Army with modern weapons has reached a stage when completion is in sight. Activity in Air Strength The monthly rate of delivery of aircraft has been more than doubled during the current financial year and will show further substantial increases. Expenditure on air raid precautions amounted to £3,500,000 in 1937, For the present year it is estimated to reach £9,250,000, while for the next year the estimate is £42,000,000, exclusive of assistance to vital public utility services and the provision of emergency fire-fighting purposes estimated at £9,000,000. Plans for Adjustment The 'White Paper emphasises that it is impossible at present to predict how soon the world situation will permit the slowing down of the production of armaments, but suitable arrangements have been made to secure an adjustment of the programme in the light of any improvement in the international situation.