24 MARCH 1928, Page 2

* * Since the last Imperial Conference the Dominions understood

the Mother Country's Naval burdens much better, and were therefore responding. New Zealand received the First Lord's public thanks for the £1,000,000 which she is contributing in instalments to the dock- building at Singapore, as well as for offering to maintain another cruiser. Compared with last year the estimates show a reduction of £1,150,000 to £57,300,000. The Labour Party moved an amendment urging the Govern- ment to take the initiative in proposing the abolition of capital ships and submarines, and did not take much credit for their country which has done more abolishing than any other, and has proposed the rechiction in size of capital ships and of cruisers and the abolition of submarines. The votes were agreed to.