PALACE AT CANBERRA.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 153, 4 August 1914, Page 8

PALACE AT CANBERRA.

PLANS FOR PARLIAMENT HOUSE. No expense is to be spared to secure ease and comfort for the members bf the Federal Parliament and others whose duty takes them to the National Legislature when it is eventually removed to Canberra, says the '' Age.'' Details which have been prepared for the guidance of architects in submitting their designs for the Parliamentary buildings show that every provision is to be made to compensate for the isolation. One of the most interesting features is that the House of Bepresentatives is to be'-constructed in such a manner as to permit of-its expansion to accommodate 300 members, and provision is to be made in the Senate for a possible membership of 150. The ultimate cost of the Parliament House is estimated at about £1,000,000, but the expenditure on the first necessary portion is not to exceed £250,000. It is pointed out that women are equally eligible with men for membership of the Federal Parliament, and that the possibility of their taking part in the deliberations of either House must be taken into consideration. The means of access to the chambers is to be so designed that all members may respond ~to a summons for a division on three minutes ' notice. Ample corridors, stairs, and lifts are to be provided, and local ! wardrobe, lavatory, and toilet provision for men and women is to be made avail--1 able in esch group of chambers. Heating and ventilation systems are also to be installed throughout. About 800 square feet of space is to., be set aside for the use of the. This includes an giving access to the gailGT?Ss,"exterior observation bakeries, roof promenades, etc., with rooms for doorkeepers, three policenien, and two reception chambers. Th3i-e will also be a general lobby suitable for ceremonials and banquets, with direct connections to the principal public and members' sections. LIBRARY. QUARTERS. The library quarters are to be so placed as to allow scope for expansion, and to give access for the public separately from members, the idea being that the collection at Canberra should be national as well as Parliamentary, until the specified capacity of 4000 square feet is outgrown, when independent library quarters might be established elsewhere, as provided for in the suggested Government group of buildings. There will be ten distinct rooms for the use of-the library staff. Space is to be made available in ,the scheme for housing ultimately 250,000 volumes, 5000 volumes of newspapers and 50,000 volumes of documents, but room for 5000 volumes of books, 200 periodical files, and 200 newspaper files will meet temporary requirements. There will, however, be a special compartment for the display of a national collection of rare books, plate, medals, maps, etc. -The public accommodation will include a. periodical and reading room, and six study rooms, with provision for type writing. A periodical and reading room will be exclusively reserved for members, and will cover 2500 square feet. For members' recreation and refreshment services 14,000 square feet of space is to be set aside, the accommodation including a billiards room with space for three tables, with lounges adjacent: a members' dining room to seat 250, officers' dining room to seat 30, Press dining room to seat 30, five strangers' (.lining rooms and elaborate kitchen accommodation and space for attendants. There will also be two legislative drafting offices. PRESS GALLERY QUARTERS.

Reporting facilities have been given careful consideration. The official reporting suite will be as close as possible to the chambers, and will be divided up into 20 separate rooms, making in the aggregate an area of 6000 square feet. Representatives of the Press are to have an assembly room, and thirteen suites of two rooms each, which are to be assigned to separate newspapers or agencies. These are to be convenient of access to the two chambers, with post, telegraph, and telephone offices near by. in the House of Representatives portion of the building there will be three general waiting rooms and three retiring rooms for women. The chamber will be light ami airy, and so designed as to give accommodation for 100 members, and to allow for ultimate expansion to seat a possible membership of 300. The Press Gallery is to be set low, with desk equipment for 30 reporters, and the "Hansard" staff will have a special gallery. The Speaker's Gallery will hold 150 people, and the Public Gallery 200. There will be seveja rooms set apart for administrative purposes, and the Speaker's suite will include an ante-room, a reception and dining room, a library and a bedroom, with bath and toilet accommodation. Liberal space for Ministerial supporters, members of the Opposition, and officers of each party is also to be provided- The Ministry will have a deputation hall, with lavatory and toilet rooms attached, and there will be two rooms for the Prime Minister, with one each for other members of the Cabinet. On the Senate side there will be temporary accommodation for 50 members and room for ultimate expansion to hold 1150. The Chamber and suites are to be | designed much on the same principle as the House of Representatives,