asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the total capital cost of construction and of armament equipment; what is the annual cost in maintenance and ammunition; and what is the annual cost of maintenance and pay of officers and men, including prospective non-effective charges of the "Chatham," "Dublin," "Southampton," and "Melbourne"?

The capital cost of construction and armament equipment of the "Chatham," "Dublin," and "Southampton," is approximately as follows:—

"Chatham"	…	£389,000
"Dublin"	…	377,000
"Southampton"	…	376,000

The annual cost of maintenance and ammunition for each of these ships is estimated at £23,000; and the annual cost of maintenance and pay of officers and men (including the annual liability for prospective non-effective charges) at £40,000. The "Melbourne" is a ship of the same class as the "Chatham" and to some extent the expense of building and equipment and maintenance would be on the lines of that ship. Final figures as regards first cost, however, are not yet available, and the cost of maintenance will be affected by the different conditions obtaining in the Australian Navy.