PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 165, 3 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TiICBSHAY, JL'LV 2. (Per Press Association.) LECISLAI'I\E COL'NCIL

Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met iu 2.30 \ p.m. Hon. Mr. SINCLAIR resinned the debate on the AddfcsS-in-Jteply, deploring the attitude of the workers in lloutyig the Arbitration Court, as their welfare' was bound up in the,success of indul*/ tries. lion. ilr. McCARDLE congratulated) the (.iovernment on the Land - Dills ol last session, which must make for tihf;; progress of the Dominion, Jlou. .Mr. CALLAN also spoke, and' the Council adjourned at U.oj p.m. HOUSE 01-' REI'RESENTATiVES.

The House mot at 2.30 p.m. Alter the usual formal business, Sir Joseph Ward explained what was being done concerning the new Parliamentary Buildings. The Government had sketcii plans made for a new building on tjfjf-J I old site, and for one on Government House site. There was not sullicioufi time to erect temporary, buildings on* the old site, and as the buildings .in , Wellington were unsuitable, he was coniident the Government had done tV'J best under the circumstances. A complete building on Government House site would cost £IBO,OOO, but for "null that sum, and using the present build' ings, they could make satisfactory arrangements for at loa-.t six or seven years, but nfter that the old wooden buildings in which they were at present silting would be exhausted either uy dry rot o r the borer, lor buildings on fhe old site, the cost would be Jillo.OOO. If they sold the situ where the Governuielit olliees stood, they could obtain £200,000, but he was opposed to a sale; as they never knew what would be (lijo requirements of the Government in tho future. The cost of a new Government House would be .C 25.000, but this could lie covered by the sale of the Ministerial residences in the city for .C32,7!)0. He intended to ask that a Select Committee of both Houses consider the whole question. To erect half the building, mentioned would take 18 months, and a complete building two anil a-halr years. The Premier thought the Government and the City Council in conference might agree to close a portion of Sy<U iiey street. This would give the Government an undivided block from J hit street to Bower street. As to a sitlcl , for Government House, they must guaru . against inflated values. 'i lie Prime i Minister explained that he had no feelI nig on the and only wanted to ■ do what was best in looking to the fiis ture.

The Marriages Validation Act was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Ucvisum Committee. The House adjourned until 2.30 nm. to-morrow.