PARLIAMENT’S HOME.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1917, Page 2

PARLIAMENT’S HOME.

Patching Up Old Building

Position of New Contract

Wellington, May 2G

F'-r five yearj the new Parliament Building has been in prcceas of eteotioo, and at last the woifc has reached roof level. la a fortnight' the roof will be placed on ihe front elevation leavicg oniy the. massive pillars and the entrance steps to the first fl nr to be built op. The House of Representatives chamber has been roofed for several weeks, and the lobby, Press room, “ Hansard ” room aad smaller offices are in tbe final stage of erection except for internal fittings. Plumbing is going on apace, and the woodwork is coming well to hand. The Nelson or Kairurn marble used in the front and back elevations turns out to be an exceedingly fine building material, looking excellent when in position. It b'is been quarried in such large pi C')a of sound quality that there has been no difficulty in cutting up blocks of suitable siza for the heavy pillars and their rroamental cap*. This stone works up weil under the sauiptoc’s chisel, and New Zealand will have good teason io be proud of its chief puiUo bu lling when completed, As for the date of that event, so Icng aw uited, I am in f ormed by the contractors that there will bo no difficulty in making the whole building ready for use for the 1918 session in fact some of the rooms are ready new, but it wilt not ba convenient to use them.

In view of this position of the new building, it is ramutkable to 6od the Government consenting to a rather large expenditure on ihs old wooden buildiug. Tbe Acting-Prim* Minister has had a complete suite of officr-s built on tbe second storey, ovei the old tea-room. This may be -jaatified owing to the imperativo nesd for additional accommodation fur hia hardworked staff. Bat ihs bnildiDg of a new smoke-room for the Legislative Council, in place of a smaller one in existence, will be harder to defend. Two small rooms have been tacked,on in other pHces to serve as messengers’ rcoms, while some time ago t'lere was an addition to tbe Prime Minister’s office and the office of tbe Minister- of Mines. Many hundreds of pouude have been thus epeqt on work which will be valueless so early bb ihe session of 1918.