THE LATEST FAD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9010, 20 December 1907, Page 4

THE LATEST FAD.

In the course of a speech, at Tai- ' hape, on Tuesday last, the Premier said it had been suggested—by whom he did not say—that it would be a splendid thing for the country if the people decided to re-build Parliament Houses themselves. Sir Joseph Ward, evidently jumping at the idea of a possibility of retaining his surplus re :ord, suggested that the newspapers should open subscriptions lists for the purpose of defraying the cost of the new buildings. Doubtless many hearers anJ readers thoueht the Premier was indulging in one of his "little jokes"; but there is no doubt about his sincerity. Yesterday's "Dominion" states that "it is the Premier's intention to communicate at once with the various newspapers of the dominion in regard to the proposed scheme for reinstating the Parliament Buildings by public subscription. This, he believes, will be the best way of obtaining an expression of public feeling on the matter." Wo do not think there will be much heard of: this wild idea" after press opinion has been collated. Sir Juseph exclaims "What a splendid thing if the people were to subscribe £1 a-piece to that object!" . Aye, it would lie grand! We suppose the Premier includes the wome and children, and the Maoris and the old age pensioners, ar.d the recipients of charitable aid. How could these be left out without fesling themselves placed in a very invidious position.. The State might, if necessary, lend them the. money, at a reasonable rate of interest, so that not even the poorest should fall short of an equal share in the "honour and glory" of such a splendid achievement. Thus, somewhere about £900,000 should be provided if the scheme "caught on." There are two obstacles, however, in the way of carrying ,out the suggestion. First of all, the people are not likely to do for the Stale in an irregular way what the State ought to co in' the ordinary course; secondly, a public building, however ornate and costly, reflects no honour upon a community, but rather the uses to which it is | put. It is Parliament itself, and not the structure covering it, that alone can i-eflect honour upon the people, and we are afraid that the kind of Parliament to which all men at home and abroad would look with pride is not to be got with money-the purchasing experiment has been tried without achieving the most satisfactory results.