SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 233, 6 November 1909, Page 6

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

WELIXNOxUN bit AliGki^uN'ii. Sunie interesting remarks u'iia icier* ouuc lu llie locauon ul the aeat ui Govenuuejit took piuce in lliu nou-* ol xicpresentutives. jir. LtJovur (Auckland Central), il will Oc it'iUCJllbei'L'U, recently Uaked WilCtUCr the Uuvcrnment would lake into conauicruLon me appointment oi a special 'committee ol ine House to go into the j 'jiH'stiuu of the removal of tne Goveru- | liaJlH Jll'iUt<|Uai tfVa ii'oiu Wellington to AUcKiUUII.

iiiu J/rnne -Minister, in reply, said he aympatniscU with the honourable gentleman in iiiH natural desire to have l'iv city of Auckland made the seat oi Go■ venimeni, and lie agreed that from the point ol suitability and general attrac- 1 ineness tiiat thai city compared lav* uurably with any other centre iu iuj Dominion. 'ine decision come to some years ago, aner full inquiry, to muUe Wellington the seat of Government could not, however, he ignored, ami in view oi the fact that expensive public buildings had been erected in the Empire City «o unable the work of liie central <iovernment to be carried on, the consequent expenditure attendant upon such a proposal, apart altogether from the cost of I'arliainent. buildings, was Mich as to deter the favourable consideration of lae question.

Mr. Clover, iu expressing dissatisfaction with the answer, said he would tike lu make "one appeal on behalf of iuy | good people of the city of Auckland.'' I (Laughter). In regard to the seat of Government. if tliey made a change, the question wa*. Wnere were they going to go 'i Voices: To Marlborough. Mr. (jllovcr: 1 say that- it. should go Co Auckland, and it' we could only decide upon a suitable site, the capital would bo removed from Weljington tomorrow. (Ironical hear, hears.) Auekland i»' one of the most progressive and prosperous places in New Zealand. It has great potentialities, and, in time to come, when, perhaps, J have passed to the grand and beautiful beyond (Loud Laughter). Sir Joseph Ward: That can't he so beautiful as Auckland!. (Laughter.) Mr. Glover said the fact that there was already a Government House in Auckland, and none in Wellington, was an argument in favour of what he proposed. He admitted tnat it would he rather far to take southern members t.o Auckland.

Mr. Arnold (Dunedin) : Wc would be only too pleased. Mr.Glovcr: I'lie Auckland people are well known for their liospilatily— (iie«r. hear)—and they will treat you well every time.

Mr. Luke »*aid lie thought the time had arrived when the (juesiion of the seat of Government should be definitely settled. It was not desirable that wnenever new Parliamentary buildings had to bo erected the. question should no 1 revived. There were certain disabilities' in having the seat of Government in n city, and he was not sure but that Wellington would not have have urii better o«' in earlier years if it had not been made the seat, of Government, lie was not wedded to the belief that having the seat of Government was a prime mover in the advancement of a city. Mr. Laurenson s'aid that there was a very strong feeling in the House in favour of moving the site of the capital from Wellington, and he thought that it would be a good thing if a change were made. Wellington, lie said, was a desperate place in regard to rent for any ordinary individual to come to, and he believed it would be a good thing for this cltv if another capital was chosen. Mr. Wright (Wellington South): Wc are not afraid of your threats. Wellington is a corner section, and if yon move the capital it will still go on. The people of Wellington have got courage and independence. Mr. Glover: So they have in Auckland.