Parliament House.

Manawatu Herald, 16 April 1898, Page 3

Parliament House.

Wednesday's Pott says :— To-day the Premier will lay the foundationBtone of what is ostensibly to be a new Parliamentary Library, but what is in fact the commencement of new and ornate Houses of Parliament that the country might well have been spared the cost of for many yeara to come. All that was wanted could have been provided by a judicious expenditure of the amount voted (7000) on a simple detached and fire-proof building for the safe disposal of the magnificent library that for many years has been in peril of destruction from fire, This is the only expenditure we have ever counselled, just so much as would be absolutely necessary to make the library accessible and free it from the danger of destruction. The Premier however, could see no political gain jn so modast an undertaking. He must play to hi 3 gallery, and so, while be asked for £7000 for the work ancf got it, he straightway, on the eve of a by-election, committed the country to an expenditure Sraribusly estimated at from £30,000 to £45,000 in order to help to capture the City seat. In this last he happily failed, but the huge bribe ha 3 yet to bo expeuded, and to-day he will lay the foundation-stone of one of the most co9tly and. unneces Bary public work 3 that, has marked his administration. The reckless haste that has characterised this work, from the acceptance of plans without con petition to the confusion and waste that 13 now marking the progress of the work by day and night at the building itself, has been simply scandalous, because, if for no Other reason, it is unnecessary.