A MINISTERIAL RESIDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 2

A MINISTERIAL RESIDENCE

HISTORIC BIJT COSTLY. V ii*% / ' : }. S^OIJLD-THE, SITE BE SOLD ? r -'.. ••'*,. . 4 •! -t.-''. ‘ '•'* V/. -V'y n y \ i;> 10. . , Tbougb'a .Minisierial assurance, was given v isirly in the-debate that nothing definite .had.-.befem dftue m the. way of disposing fit 1 the -old . Ministerial residence .’in -Tihakdri' Road Wellington, the cif. Repfesent{i;ives devoted About; t^o ; .hpurs'.to-day to an amendment ‘to reduce. the Maintenance of Piiblic' Biuldings, vote.by £lO as an indicatibn that the .property should not be sold. The mover, Air D. Jones (aiid-Canterbufy)-detailed a long line pf Prime Ministers who have lived in |he residence and declared Ithat it was a grave blunder to dispose of so historical a building and grounds. Opposition to any .sale uvas voiced by the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, who thought that as Wellington was very congested in that locality i'the Government might well provide the city with a fine open space. The Hon. G. W; Forbes, acting-Lead er of the House .explained that the annual cost of upkpep of the old building was so heavy that the Government call ed for a general report on Ministerial residences but nothing had been decided as to the ultimate use of the site. Nothing of a definite character had been done.;

This explanation was supplemented by the Hon.' E. A. Hansom, Minister of Public Works, who staited that a survey, was . made to see the possibilities of the site if it was realised, but there had been no decision in the matter. The Government had brought another block of land nearer Parliament Building, ’ adjoining other public lqnd, and this was very suitable for Ministerial residences. The objection to the Tinakori Road building was , that it would coslb a, very large sum an nually to maintain. I The solution of this problem, announced Mr M’Keen, a Wellington City Councillor, was for the Government to hand the land and building to the city, which would undertake to maintain it properly as a public reserve. ■ Mr Jones asked the Minister later in the debate if the House would be given an opportunity of voting upon tiie question of selling the residence of the Prime Minister. j ■ ' “Yes, I think, so, if I have anything to do with it,” replied the Hon. E. A. Ransom, |

By consent of the House the amendment was withdrawn.

“I hope the Government will not give a lead to the rest .of the country and to people who are entitled to have their own homes, by creating accommodation so that Ministers will live, in flats,” said Mr Jones. “I think it would be, a retrograde step. Grouping till the Ministers in flats would be going entirely in the face of public opinion and be very wrong.” j - ' The Hon. E. A. Ransom explained that .it was proposed to erect Ministerial flats on grounds across the street immediately behind Parliament Buildings. When the new museum was built the existing museum " would he demolished.

“Oil, you don’t propose to put the government in the museum, do you? queried Mr Jones with a laugh. ; “ Not this Government,” was the Minister’s grave reply'.