PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9132, 3 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

BY TKLEOUAPH —r-RESS ASSOCIATION. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, July 2. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair (Otago) resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He said he deplored the attitude of the workers in floating the Arbitration Court as their welfare was bound up in the success, of industries. The Hon. W. W. McCardle (Auckland) congratulated the Government on the Land Bills of last session, which must make for the progress of the Dominion. \ . \ The Hon. J. B. Callan (Otagbf also spoke, and the Council adjourned at 3.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

STATEMENT UY THE PREMIER

The House met at 2.30 p.m. After the usual formal business, Sir Joseph Waivi explained what was being done con :erning the now Parliamentary Buildings. The Government had a sketch plan made for a new building on the old site, and for one on the Government House site; There was not sufficient time to erect temporary buildings on the old site, as the buildings in Wellington were unsuitable he was confident the Government had done the best in the circumstances. The complete building on the Government House site would cost £IBO,OOO, but for half that sum and using the present building they could make satisfactory arrangements for at least six or eight years, but after that the old wooden » building in which they were at present sitting would be exhausted eiti er by dry rot or the borei\ The new buildings on the old site would cost £115,000. If they soid (he site whew the Govemmcn:. offices stood they could obtain 5250.000. but he was opposed to the sale, as one never knew what would be the requirements of in the future. The cost of the new Government House would be £25,000, out .this could ' e covered by thv sale of Ministerial residences in the city for £32,790. He intended to a&k that a select committee of both Houses should considt r the whole question. To erect half cf the building mentioned would take eighteen months and ,to complete the building two and a-half years. The Premier thought the Government ai:d City Council in conference might agree to close a portion of Sydney street. Thi3 would give the Government an undivided block from Hill street to Bownen street. As to th° site for Government House they must guard against inflated values, lie Prime Minister explained that he had no fueling in the matter. He only wanted to do what was best, and was looking to the future:.

MARRIAGES VALIDATION ACT

The Marriages Validation Act was read a second time pro forma and. referred to u.o statutes Revision Co.nmittee. The House adjournal until 2.50 p.m. to-morrow.