"HOUSING" OF PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 976, 17 November 1910, Page 2

"HOUSING" OF PARLIAMENT.

more "about building schemes. N.z. DESIGNS TO BE INVITED. The intentions of the Government with' reference to the rebuilding of Parliament buildings wore the subject of an interest-ing-statement by the Prime Minister ia ' the House of Representatives yesterday. Some days ago Mr. Malcolm, M.P. for Clutha, asked the Premier whether,: in view of the erection of the buildings, ho uould endeavour to obtain the plans and if possible the specifications of the vari-., ou?. colonial Parliamentary buildings. Ta this Sir Joseph AVard replied that local and climatic conditions in every country have a direct bearing on its. buildings, and owing to tbo great difference in the climatic conditions existing between this uorainion aud Australia, the plans . and specifications of any of tlie Parliamentary • ? iSJ?® s 111 ie Commonwealth would ba , or . no use -if applied to any such buildings in New Zealand. Is the Government going to call for competitive designs ?" inquired Mr. Mas-, sey, who said that he' hoped such would"' ... he the case, as tho appearance of a number of ■ public buildings in New Zealand — " was not np to what was desired. The Premier said that it was intended to invite, competitive designs in New Zealand. in .connection with the new buildings. There was," in his opinion, no necessity to go outsido New Zealand, for V it would mean delay, and, in addition, there were architects in New Zealand as good as could be found in' other couatries. • • Mr. T. E.' Taylor: Will it be publfa competition?' -- Sir Joseph Ward: "Yes." He went onto say that the buildings wouldbesatisfactorj from the point of view of architecture." ' There should, he truste3, be no • furthei reference to tho cost of the Dunedin rail* way station. (Laughter.) ' .' Mr. Massey: I do not suggest that, thera was extravagance/ there. Mr. T. Mackenzie: Your colleague, Mr/ '. Allen, 'did. The Premier said that the new Parlia- . mentary buildings would cost .£80,000; which he considered could not be called ) extravagant. . .. J . Mr. • Taylor.: But Will that- cover; :thS .' cost ? - Sir Joseph Ward: I think it will.- :• Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said' that/ .. what was required included two Chambers '- for the two Houses, an extension of the Par« ■ : liamentary Library buildings, ' the crec-. . tion of the new buildings on- a-suitabls. . site' to enable a connection between'.'' the. ; two buildings, so that members could get . . to divisions from both sides. Mr. Massey. It will only be a maW - ' shift. . . Sir Joseph Ward: No. There -would be an extension of the present buildings. .Ho thought the proposals';were -of a practi- ; cal and sensible nature. They 'were nofr going in for any wild \ Mr. Herries: Well, that' is : something . new. (Laugbter.) Sir Josepli Ward: We know that whea; we work on economical lines we are ao- ■ v eased of being extravagant. : Mr. Pearce: Wliat about Government' ' House? It is to cost £55,000. - Sir Joseph Ward: You were, asking: just now that names should be painted on raiU way stations. You wait for eigliteea ■ months—wait, till we are done. -I be* lieve in results. • Mr. Nosworthy: The Opposition may bj : : in power before then. r . Sir Joseph Ward: No, the people are toed ; sensible. : .. ' -. '' ■ . , • , - .; Mr. Noswortliy: You don t seem t(T. know. ' Sir. Massey: Do yon,think the five miN < lion loan ivill stop them? (Laughter.) - In the course of further -remarks, th« ' l Premier made no fresh announcement oa l the. subject.