PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS—THE LATEST SUGGESTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 75, 21 December 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS—THE LATEST SUGGESTION.

I am, yours truIy,—READY-MONEY

Sir,—Sir Joseph Ward is anxious to afford the public an opportunity of subscribing a brick, or a cask of cement, or a marblo staircase, or an .electric lift, •or a whole building, to bo known' as the Parliament House of the Dominion of ' New Zealand, and evidently anticipatesthat lie has only to ask to receive the sum. ho requires, viz., £150,000, by way of voluntary subscription, for the erection of a 'deliberating Chamber for our Legislature. ; So ; far. I have not heard of any sensational contribution towards this worthy proposal, and I would venture a suggestion that might bo tho means of showing tho world at large that New Zealand contains ' £150,000 available for the purposes indicated. I would nroposo that the Government -authorise a public subscription-, by. one pound tickcts for tho sum of £250,000,. of which £150,000 is to bo devoted to the building of suitable Houses of Parliament, and the balanco of _ £100,000 is to be, devoted to a scries of prizes for distribution among the contributors. V I would propose .that the first prize bo tho grant of that piece of land- whereon tho present Parliamentary Buildings stand, and which, for tho purposes 'of - this' suggestion, .1 would value at £50,000, such,sum to bo payable to tho . Government' out of tho monoys reserved for prizes. Of the balanco I would propose: second prize, £10,000; thircf prize, £5000; fourth ' prize, £2500'; fifth prize, £1000; twenty of £500 each (£10,000); forty, of £250 each (£10,000); sixty of £100 each (£(3000); one hundred of £50 each (£5000); fifty of £10 each (£500). If tho press of the Dominion wore to take tho suggestion in hand, and, by any method they might elect to adopt, publish in their* nows' column a form of application somewhat upon the following- lines, I believe the inherent patriotism of the. Dominionites, coupled with the chance of becoming'tho fortunate winner of any ono of' tho prizes proposed, would soon procuro a\ building fund, raised by the people for the*-people's elected legislators, without spending bor-' rowed money, or without going outside New Zealand to invito subscription. To the Secretary, Parliament Houses Building Fund, l'leaso receive _£ as a contribution towards the above fund, and kindly forward tickcts to mo. Signature Address ...'.