HC Deb 28 April 1910 vol 17 cc641-2
Mr. PETO

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the reasons given by Rear-Admiral Francis T. Bowles, United States Navy, retired, in a letter to Senator Frye, of Maine, for the cost of constructing armoured ships in the United States of America being lower than in this country; whether the "Dreadnought," 1905, cost 447 dols. per ton and the "Michigan," two ships, 1905–6, cost 344.5 dols. per ton in both cases, exclusive of guns, torpedoes, and ordinary outfit; and, if so, to what he attributes the cost of the construction of armoured ships in recent years being from 13 per cent. to 23 per cent. lower in the United States of America, a protected country, than in England under Free Trade?

The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)

There is no official information as to the cost per ton of the "Michigan" class as completed. For a correct comparison it would be necessary to have detailed information as to the exact portions of the vessels and their equipment that are included in the computation. I must point out to the hon. Gentleman that in the comparison of the cost of battleships there is no uniform standard of quality; on the other hand, with regard to the open competition between nations for the building of mercantile ships in which presumably a certain standard of excellence would be demanded, the United States officer in the letter quoted by the hon. Gentleman remarked that the United States firms cannot compete with British and German firms in the construction of commercial vessels.

Mr. PETO

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the standard of finish and equipment in the United States Navy represents 25 per cent. less efficiency than our own?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir. I have no knowledge of the standard of finish in the United States Navy, and I am not able to make any comparison as to the quality of their ships with ours.

Mr. FLAVIN

As America is a Protectionist country, may we take it that the wages paid there are lower than we pay in this country?

Mr. McKENNA

I know the cost of construction of mercantile ships is higher in the United States than in this country; but in relation to battleships I am not able to make any comparison.