NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 6

NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE

PREMIER.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE SITE SUCCESTED. A BUILDINC FOR ALL TIME. (nr- TELEGIUrn—SrECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Dunedin, December 13. - The. Premier and the Hon: J. .A. Millar were the guests of the Harbour Board today at an excursion down the harbour. In the course of his-speech at the luncheon, Sir J. G. Ward said that one of the troubles tho Government had to fn«o was the providing of proper housing for the present and future representatives of tho people of the Dominipn. The matter was one that probably Parliament would have to-bei consulted on—on one material poiut at any rate. Owing to tho lire that had taken placo, the. question of orecting suitable buildings for both branches of tho Legislature had arisen, arid it had to be borne in mind that we-'xid to provide for tho needs of the next ISO or 200 years. The wisdom of Parliament would have to bo applied to this question. He himself thought it be well to make a change of site. . Those who know Wellington knew the magnificent .piece of ground on which Government House stands. Subject to the opinion of His Excellency, who had over been most oourteous and ready in meeting the wishes of the Government :.nd country—and' ho (Sir Joseph) believed that' the Governor would be favourable in this matter to any. proposal: made by the Prime .Minister and his colleagues—he believed the most careful consideration in regard to finding a most suitable site would, result in the conclusion that thoy should avail; themselves of the-large area of land on which'-Govern-ment House stands. It was an area more suited for Parliamentary. Buildings than.for Government House. It seemed to. him that the time was opportune to take,advantage of this untimely event, and build - something that would''be for all time—something'that .would bo a credit to the Dominion and ;o its' people.'"'