THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12989, 17 December 1907, Page 7

THE NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

NEXT SESSION AT THE OLD SITE. (SPECIAL TO "THK PB.KSS.") WELLINGTON. December l<s. Sir Joseph Ward informed mc that it lias been decided to effect temporary repairs to whet remains of the present Parliament Buildings, with o view to holding next session there as usual. His idea of building a permanent House of Parliament on tho Government House site is only conditional upon selling or leasing the site on which the present departmental buildings stand. Tho sclicjue would involvo the demolition of Government House and the present departmental buildings, or, in otiier words, tho oroction of tliree Uurge new buildings, viz., Parliament Houso. Government House, and departmeoiial buildings, at a cost of aibout a quarter of a mil Li on sterling. Moreover, all .three buildings would have to be gone on with at tho same tiruo.

It is considered doubtful if Parliament would ratify eutfh a big building sdheme. No doubt it would be a splendid thing for Wellington, but evL'jr Wcliiiisjion. people havo no desire to brjicnt unduly, when railways and reads and bridges «iro still wanted for tbo buck-blooks settlers.

On this point his Worship tho Mayor, the Hon. T. W. HMop, may be taken as voicdiig the opinion of tho people. Mr Hislop considers tho present eito «n id<*d one. 8o fax it lied not been ghown that it would bo advantageous to make tho change suggested. The undamaged portion of the old Parliamentary Build/ing wns a permanent struoturo. and ho did not know to what other purpose it could bo put, VunJuss it wftro presented to ifoe city as tho nucleus of the proposed now Public Library. He was not awaro that tho livriiamentary Buiklhig site was required foT any other inii-poso, and us fur ati he, know, it had never been suggest od that tho building would hive bxxiu l»etter locsitcd on the proposed site, or on «ny other site. In the event of tlie proposal being adopted-, government House, wihion wns an old building, would have to be demoJiabed. Ho could net tliinJt of any. other site lor, u'overnment Honeo in or within reasonable distance of the city. "In my opinion," tho Mayor continued, "it is proposed to spend far too much money on re-building Parliament Houso. Only the probable ro quirements of, say, the next thirty or forty years, should bo provided for. new buildings should bo built in brick or other fire resisting material, and equipped with the latest firo prevention system. The old building would havo boen large enough for a great many years. Nowadays tho tendency is to be too exacting. Seeing that money ia so badly needed to provide roads, etc., in the back blocks, it would, 1 consider, not bo right to expend anything like so much money as has been suggested on the new buildings." All things considered, Sir Joseph Ward's idea that the present building should bo repaired for next session is no doubt the best ono, and will meet with tho general approval of members. Bel'laony's can bo repaired at a moderate, cost, and even tho main lobby, if it is roofed in, and painted and decorated, can bo mode available Several of the committee .rooms can also bo made habitable.

An officer who knows the facts, informs mc that some few years ago an offer was made to the Government upon exceptionally favourable terms, to irisfcal tho May-Oatway system in Parliament Buildings, but that it was refused on the grounds that tho appliances already in the building were sufficient to cope with any firo that might break out. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAJI). WKLLESTGTON, December 16. At a* meeting of the Cabinet to-day it was decided to effect temporary repairs to the present Parliamentary Building, and hold the next session of Parliament there. The question of re-erecting tho building will be decided next session.

The Premier stated that next session Parliament would bo hold in temporary premises to be provided at tho site of the old building. Details of the schomo have notj yet been decided on. "Wβ will go about tho whole matter of rebuilding very carefully," Sir Joseph continued. "There will be no attempt to provide a palatial structure. Without in any way being extravagant, it will be necessary to rebuild in a substantial manner. 1 think tho matter is one of sufficient importance to consult Parliament about when next we meet. There is no occasion to call members together at this stage. Under any cirenmstanocs, if it wero decided to rebuild, the building work could not be completed under eighteen months, and necessary appropriations ivould require to be made. Wo can easily provide temporary premises, whore tho accommodation will bo of a reasonable kind."

Asked if tho session -would be a short ono, Sir Joseph said that it would nob have been as long as last session even if tlio building hud not been destroyed. Hi 3 impression was that Parliament would sifr for about the usual timo in tho case of tho session preceding a general election.