PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 242, 6 October 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

TIIE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. ■By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. in the House of Representatives last evuuing. The Premier moved that the report of the joint Parliament Buildings Site ■Committee (report of which lias already been published) be adopted. There was, lie said, responsibility on tnc House, and, in turn, upon tile Government, to give e/l'eet to the recommendations in tiie report. There was 110 partitular hurry in deciding upon the design Oi ilie new Parliamentary Buildings, as tlie business of Parliament was being carried on witti a tolerable dejjree of corn fori in the present quarters. and I'll e Government proposed that competitive designs should be called for from architect.* in New Zealand, iiicKnling tiie Government architect. A 1 t.rnatiw designs should lie •Mllcil for in brick, ferro-concreto. stone ami wood, the cost of I'lie building not to exceed £150,000. With regard 10 extra accommodation for the Government Buildings it was proposed to erect a three-storied building in brick or concrete, costing £20.000, on Molesworih Street site. The limit for Government House should be ,C2»,000. The site must be found in Wellington, anil tlie house should be creeled without delay. If the House ngreetl to the report, a'iid' t eey proceeded gradually by leasing the LambtOn Quay site, tlrey could prov ide interest c, : i tire cost of the whole scheme, together with sinking fund to repay the whole sum in twentv-five rears.

Mr. Jlassey protested at so much of tliu most important business Parlia-me-at had to deal witli being kept until tile last days of the session, lie complained that the committee had gone outside its order of reference, which required it to report upon the most suitable si'e for (lie erection of Parliament Buildings. "When Parliament voted for the uxtension buildings on flic old site there was not a single "word of objection to the site. He ventured, to say that by the time the whole building scheme was completed it would cost tin.* country iialf-a-niillion of money. Jlr. Massey, continuing, said the proposals were tile maddest- wildest, and iinis t, extravagant ever laid before Parliament Whilst we should erect ij Parliamentary building worthy of the Dominion, and still worthy of it in a hundred years to come, we must be caretul of our iinaiice.

.Mr. Laurenson urged that the whole fjire-stion should be held over for consideration by tllie new Parliament !Mi. Izard regretted thai Parliament Buildings could not be erected on tile old site repfcte with historic traditions, but all evidence given before UK! committee was against tlut, lie thought competitive designs should be called lor from beyond the Dominion as well as from architects in the Dominion.

ilr. Ilogg v.'as glad the Premier intended to go cautiously. The report 'U as the moat reckless one ever brought 'before Parliament. This was certainly nut the tiino to ftpe-nd huge sums on ■building* which would not be n.pro(liu'livc. 110 thought buildings could he oioctcd on the old site at much loss cost than it was now proposed 't<> spend.. I,ess should be spent on the Imildings and more on public ivorks in country. Mr. Lang moved to amend the report in the direction of recommending the erection of Parliament buildings on the old site in ilolesworth Street, Mr. Ilerries seconded.

. Cha,pple said it was absurd to include wood amongst alternalive materials in respect of which designs should be submitted. (1-eft Sitting.)