HABITABLE HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 744, 17 August 1929, Page 9

HABITABLE HOME

TINAKQRI ROAD COSTS PRIME MINISTER’S RESIDENCE

(Tho SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Friday. I he expenses in connection with the remodelling, furnishing and upkeep of the residence of the late Prime Mini ß «nV he , Right Hon ' J ' G ' Coates, at 260 Tinakon Road. Wellington, were brought up once more in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr. K. S. Williams, late Minister of Public Works. Mr. Williams gave an explanation of why the of £10,500 were incurred.

Speaking in the Budget debate, Mr. Williams said that the House was a wooden one, built over 50 years ago, and the point had arisen as to whether the place should be retained as the residence of the Prime Minister, or a new place acquired. Investigation revealed that the blocks were sinking in places and that one of the chimneys had fallen over. However, it was proved that it would be cheaper to keep the residence than to buy a new one.

The expenditure mentioned by the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, was not all on maintenance. Some of it should be called expenditure used to make the house habitable. Painting and furnishings, of course, were maintenance charges. Mr. Williams did not know how much of the expenditure was a capital charge, as he had not the files by him, but no doubt a good deal was entitled to ba charged under that heading. Fir. Ransom: About half the amount.

Trees had to be cut down, Mr. Williams said, to enable the drainage system to be put in. order, and this had cost a good deal. The country would agree, he was sure, that its Prime Minister should have a house suitable for entertaining vistors, and grounds in which social functions could be held.