HOW THE MONEY GOES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 September 1901, Page 4

HOW THE MONEY GOES.

“Improvements” in and around Parliament.

(special to “stab.”)

Wellington, September 10. Someone in authority is responsible for the expenditure of large sums of money in various efforts to. improve Parliament House and grounds. The tangible result of a considerable portion of this expenditure baa been to upset everything, without on the other hand securing any commensurate benefit so far as one may discover who employs a powerful microscope in the search. Hundreds of pounds have been spent in tinkering with the Chamber of the House with a view of improving the ventilation—the result at the beginning t.f this session was that the draught which swept across the Chamber was almost sufficient to blow one’s head off. Members in every part of the House complained, and accordingly, some more men were put on and another strenuous effort made to stop draught. This has boon done. There is no draught. Instead, there is a stagnant, debilitating atmosphere which renders work in the Hoes 3 quite exhausting. In the Parliament (grounds trees have been cleared away and flower beds laid out in which flowers are making valiant but entirely unsuccessful at'empts to grow- When the large circular grass lawn was farmed outside the main entrance of Parliament House some vandal came along with an axe and foiled the fine pohutakawa treo opposite the doorway. In pursuance of this policy of improvement two Boor guns from South Africa have now been introduced and planted down beside the alleged statue of John Ballnnce. The manner of introducing those guns was quite in accordance with the up-to-date methods of the Department. They were first ordered to be placed in the vestibule, but as this space was not large enough thej were, it is stated, dragged down the tiled steps, chipping off pieces at every bump, and were then drawn acrcss the well kept lawn, which has been cut up in every direction. Now the Permanent Artilleryman who guards the doorway of Parliament has to vary his duties by tramping across the lawn at irregular intervals to warn off the small boy who wants to play with the new trophies. There will probably bo questions in the House about these guns,