THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1264, 20 October 1911, Page 6

THE COUNCIL.

PACIFIC CABLE DEVIATION. PARLIAMENT BUILDING PLANS. Tho Legislative Council mot flit 2.30 yesterday afternoon. Tko Aid to Public Works and Land Settiement Bill wp-s received from the House of Representatives, and read. a first time. .The New Plymouth High School Act, 1889, Amendment Bill was introduced by tho Hon. T. Kelly, and read a first time. .The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the resolution dealing with the Pacific cable deviation, which had been postponed from Tuesday to enable tho Hon. H. P. Wiffram to communicate with the Dunodin Chamber of Commerce in regard to its proposal for an alternative route. ■ Tho Hon. H. F. WIGRAII said he had communicated with tho Dunedin Chamber, and he found that they had made representations to tho Government in regard to tho pronosod landing-piaco of the cable. They had been supported by tho Canterbury Chamber, and he hoped tho Government would consider the representations made. 'The motion was carried. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

The Hon. H. P. WIGRAM (Canterbury) moved that an opportunity should bo given tho Council to discuss the plans for the new Parliamentary Buildings. Speaking to iho motion, the mover urged that tho Government should get the best possible scheme from the different brains which had been set to work on tho competitive plans. Ho did not think it would bo advisable to, build in the gully between the presont and the old Houses, and he hope;! that this would bo avoided, and expert, opinion taken on tho best site. Por ono thing, it would mean extensive reclamation work for the foundations. Again, the building would not bo seen. It would also destroy two hatural sites, which should be kept quite distinct. There was plenty of room for what they required on the lawn in front of tho present House, facing Lambton Quay. On the presrat proposed sita the bnilding would face sideways on to lambton Quay. Mr. Wigram thought they could well afford to let the bnilding follow the contour of the land, and face the Quay. Continuing, Mr. Wigram said ho thought tho present library building was too far away, and would bavo to bo moved near to the House. A new library should be built, and tho present library might be turned into a natural museum, in which tho magnificent gift of Mr. Leo Buller migh tbe placed. , A new wing, tp be called tho Buller wing, might be erected. The Hon. J. HIGG (Wellington) seconded the motion. He thought tho proper place to put the building was to start on the front lawn and construct the balance of the building later. He did not agree, however, that tho building should follow the contour of tho land. This would mako an unsdgfhtly building. Very heavy expenditure would be saved if tho reclamation for foundations, which would bo necessary in tho proposed site, could be eliminated, and this could be done if tho building were made to face Lambton Quay* as Mr. Wigram suggested. He hoped there would bo no further delay in the erection of the building. If ho had to decide, ho would accent tho design which took second prize, and proceed with it at once.

The Hon. S. T. GEORGE (Auckland) thought the buildings should hafe been built on tho old site. ' The cost of the building was to bo £110,0,00, but if the Government got the plan completed for ,£150,000 they would be exceedingly lucky, and if. tho estimate exceeded £200,000 ho would not be surprised. He agreed with Mr. Wigranv that tho site facing Lambton Quay waswinfinitely superior to tho present' proposed site. It was necessary to build a new library, and the old one might; well bo set aside for a national musenm. as' Mr. Wigram had suggested. -The Hon. J. B. CALLAN (Otago) agreed that, the building should face Lambton Quay, and he hoped this would be taken into consideration by the Government. ■ . ■ , The Hon. J. ANSTEY (Canterbury) thought a sito other than the gully would .havo been best, but he understood that the site had already been decided on. None of the competitive plans were perfection, and tho only way to get the best result wag to take the best points out of the various plans. .Tho Hon. J. M'GOWAN (Auckland) thought tho Government had chosen the best site possible, taking all the factors into consideration. Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL thought the thanks of tho Council were duo to Mr. Wigram for tho motion. Before the .sito was chosen tho best advice possible was obtained from expert officers. Ho was sure tho suggestions made would receive the consideration of Cabinet. The Hon. J. E. .TENKINSON (Wellington) suggested that the Government might bo requested to hand over the wholo arrangements to the Legislative Council. (Laughter.) Tho motion was agreed to. BILLS PASSED. The Methodist Church of 'New Zealand Bill was read a third time, and passed. ■ The Elingaraite Rehearing Bill. Dunedin Technical School Site Bill, Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill, New Zealand State-Guaranteed Advances Amendment Bill,, and tho Auckland Grammar School Site Bills were read a second time, and subsequently put through Committee and passed without amendment. WIDOWS' PENSIONS. _ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in moving the second reading of the Widows' Pensions Bill, stated that some further means would have to bo devised to secure a limitation of the payment of pensions to cases only in which it ought to bo paid. Some widows earned a large income by means of a profession or art, but as the Bill now stood they would be able to claim the pension under it. Tho benefits of tho scheme were not for women in this independent position. For this reason he would defer the Committee stage of tho Bill to permit of an amendment being drafted to meet the case.

The Hon. J. T. PAUL (Otago) approved the present legislation, but remarked that he was satisfied that the Stale could not much longer delay tho inauguration of a universal, contributory, and compulsory scheme..

The . ATTORNEY-GENERAL pointed out that thero was already on tho Statute Book tho National Annuities Act. and if it was mado compulsory it would meet tho points raised. He believed it would be- made compulsory some day, but the class that most required the support of tho State was the class that was'least able to make tho contribution. This was tho difficulty. ; The Council rose at 5.5 p.m.