NEW ZEALAND’S GIFT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 56, 30 November 1921, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND’S GIFT

TO CANADIAN PARLIAMENT. The decision to send a gift from New Zealand to the new Parliamentary Buildings in Ottawa was made some years ego. An inquiry as to what had been done in the matter was made in the House yesterday by Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo). who said that when 'he visited the. buildings while in Canada recently he was shown gifts from South Africa' and Australia., but saw nothing from New Zealand. Ho understood that the House had decided that timber, granite or greenstone should be sent, and 'he asked the Minister of Internal Affairs what had been done. The Minister (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) said that the gift went forward in 1919 and was acknowledged. In 1916 the Prime Minister wrote to the Primo Minister of Canada offering to supply either a Speaker’s chair made of New Zealand wood, or enough timber to panel a room. The gift was welcomed by Sir Robert Borden, who asked that timber should be sent, and suggested kauri. Speciments of kauri, both plain, and wavy, and of rimu were sent, and the Prime Minister finally selected the kauri. The necessary quantity was sent in March. 1919, and a letter acknowledging receipt was received in May of that year. He thought that the timber was there and was being held awaiting an opportunity to be placed in a room. The Prime Minister remarked that he had seen the wood in preparation.