HOUSING PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 240, 3 July 1908, Page 9

HOUSING PARLIAMENT.

STATEMENT BV THE PRIME MINISTER. '•-■ The PRIME MINISTER, • in accordance with his promise . of:' the, previousday, - submitted proposals- in regard to■ the, erection of a new Parliament House. Ho desired' to state tho position clearly, and : without ox-, aggeration. The'firo in the old building; ho said,. had ' occurred oir! Decomber 11, and tho date on which Parliament had met was Juno 29—an■: interval of about'six and a half month?. The Public Works Department had' informed the Government that it would take at least; six or eight months to prepare plans and specifications for a now building, or for alterations and. additions ' to the . present building. ' Apart from that, the Government had viow-ed tlio whole position, and had found it absolutely impossible' to orect temporary buildings on the old 'site, unless constructed of wood or corrugated iron.' He pointed out that with tho 47-rooms in< the Government House and the two chambers' 'rooms, it had taken the whole timo available; since the day the' Governor, had vacated the premises,to; prepare for tho meeting : of •tho,,Houso. In tho old house there wero 65 rooms destroyed or damaged (excluding tho two chambers, and tlio lobby and the Library). , Necessary Accommodation. In addition to tho 47 rooms' in tho present building tliero wero twelvo available in.tho old building. In. addition, there wero also a number of othor rooms used for public purposes in tho Ministerial residence, apart from those set aside for the convenience of his Excellency. . Othpr rooms; also had had to bo engaged to meet the requirements of. tho session. The position tho Government had had to face was: (1) What' 1 accommodation would Parliament require, and _ (2) whero* that accommodation could be obtained. Four Alternatives. ,■ They wero faced with four'possible alternatives: (1) Utiliso the now brill Hall; (2) engage the Town Hall; (3) utilise Government _ Houso ;(4) restore tho old Parliamentary Buildings.' They had found that thb Drill Hall would bo altogether, too small. ' The Town Hall ■ building, without alteration, would also liavo provided inadequate accommodation, and a number of rooms .would have had to be erected iiisido tho hall itself. If the hall with the other rooms had . been engaged,' accommodation equal to what they now possessed ivould not have been available. The matter of rout was also an important consideration. " Tho alteruativo of-re-orecting the destroyed edifice had been dismissed entirely. They would liavo had to provido fifty rooms apd two chambers of a temporary naturo —and in this connection the Premier explained that tho Library, in which wero stored 05,000 volumes, and into which were received annually about 2500 volumes, could not have boon- utilised. It would have cost £35,000 to havo converted tho old - building to uses, and it was also guestionablo whether it would have boon possible to get tho placo ready in timo then. The Government had' then decided that to obtain tho Governor's residenco would bo tho most suitable thing. The Cost. The cost of what tho Government had already dono was as follows:—Converting Government Houso, £25-12; additions and alterations to tho Governor's houso at Palmerston North, £1878; amount paid for tlio cancellation of tho Sydney Street contract,

£1679. Ono year's rental of tho only other suitable plaoo they could have obtained -would liavo been nioro than tho wliolo of their total expenditure, and then sums would have been required to bo spent on additions and alterations. Ho thought 110 need not olaborato his statement' that tho old building could not have been got ready in time. It would have been absolutely impossible.' And'even then, if Parliament had eventually decided to rc-build 011 the old' spot, they would have had to find other temporary premises. Tho new building could not- ha-vo been ready, in less, than oightecn months. .Sydney Street Contract. ' TIIO Sydney Street contract had been suspended because tho work .thorp had been part and parcel of the old building as it had stood prior, to tho fire. There was tho possibility that if Parliament decided to re-erect tho old building, such. work as tlioy wero putting up under the contract would not bo required in tho general schoiiio,'although tho foundations thero laid could bo put! to somo other purpose than tho original : ono. Ho was satisfied that tho Government had dono tho best undor tho circumstances, and the momber who could find fault with tho present arrangements must bo vory fastidious indeed. No Time Lost. . ' Ho went on to say that immediately after the Government House had been. acquired, the. Government Architect had been ordered to propare sketch plans (1) for the restoration of the old building with alterations, (2) of now Parliament Buildings on tlid Government Houso site. These plans would be laid on tho table. At 110 timo'kad ho (the Prime Minister) suggested to'thg Government Architect to provide for anything in *tho shapo of ex-traordinary-proposals. Reasonable accommodation was to be provided in each case. ARCHITECT'S REPORT. The PRIME MINISTER (Sir Joseph Ward) then read tho report of tho Government Architect (Mr. J. Campbell). Tho report is . accompanied by sketch plans of now Parliamentary Buildings for Government .Houso sito, and also for rebuilding on tho old site, . as • well as "a block plan of the Government Houso ■ sito, showing the 'disposition of tho new building and its relation to tho position of tho present Government House. This plan shows tho recommended widenings of Boweri, Charlotte, and Museum Streets, with tho corners of tho sito rounded off so that the now ! building may bo seen to advantage and the ap-' proaches improved. Tho cost of the completed new building on the Government House site, according to plan, would bo £180,000. Tho building would bo fireproof and earthquako resisting, having steel frame, stone walls, and ferro-concreto floors, etc. ; It would 1 not bo necessary to erect the wholo of tlio building at present. One portion i fronting Charlotte Street, and Sydney Street could be erected without disturbing the' existing Government House building, which latter could continuo' to bo used for committee rooms, etc., whilst the new part would .'provide tlio permanent Chamber of the Houso of Representatives, rooms for Ministers, members/and a .temporary , U]jper.. House Chamber, etc.. The first half of tho new building would cost £90jp00, and would provide amplo accommodatiori, together with tho existing. Government House, for somo six or eight years. This would be about tho lifetime. of tho latter' wooden building,' which ;is now badly affected with tho worm - or borer and fast depreciating, having been in existence for about 38 years.

Alternative,' Plan. ! , ". The alternative plan sh'ows' a rebuilding ■soh'cmo for tho old site. This schemo • provides the necessary increased accommodation, and would cost complete. £165)000.. It provides for a new front extended nearer Molesworth Street. 'If this extension-wore to* bo omitted and the buildings erected with;practically the same accommodation astbeforo tho lire the cost . would be. £115,000 for steel frame. and stone or brick walls; This apparently high cost was accounted for by reason Of tho large expenditure which must be incurred in foundation work on tho Sydney Streot side of tho site. All along the side the ground-is made up of deposited spoil from the cutting of. .bank on Hill ■'Street side, and the foundations'in consequonco will be Ivory deep, and - costly. ; Probably £20,000 •to, £25,000 ivill- have-to ljo expended on foundations, and this expenditure will all bo; ■buried beneath the. surface;' The plan indicates in yellow colour the Library, which is 'intact and uninjured, in blue colour tho portions; of old building which are'of brick and partially destroyed, but which would havo ;to be practically rebuilt as'the fire has in-' jured tho strength of the mortar and.' the' walls would no longer be dependable in the case of an earthquake 1 , shock ; tho . pink colour' denotes entirely. new buildings and the, building for which' foundations are laid and known as "Frain's Contract." It-would be at once apparent; said the architect, upon reference to. plans, that there Was no comparison as regards convenience of arrangement. Light and-ventilation on tho old sito on account of its narrowness were most difficult to obtain'satisfactorily. "In my opinion as an architect' a convenient Parliament Buildings can never be placed on 1 tho old site. The lack'of breadth on the ground

prevents convenient communication 'between ■parts, and the necessarily congested arrangement of the: apartments prevents tho good lighting and free circulation, of air,- which are absolutely essential in a Parliament Buildings,. and which arc shown'to be cap-, able of achievement in the plan for Government' House, site." . • THE, PREMIER'S IDEA. The Prime Minister proceeded'. that he proposed to givo ' notice that later on ho would ask a Joint Committee of both Houses, consisting of, both Spoakors, the Chairman of the Library Committee, and. Hon. members of both Houses, be set up to report on tho alternative proposals. ' If Parliament decide] to' have tho present Government Houso building, by expending £90,000, they could .utilise this building so. long as it would, last, and have' sufficient requirements—incomparably better than upon the old site: ; Mr. Fisher: Where'do you propose' to put his Excellency? . .. : Tho Primo Minister': I will deal with that presently. Apart from what they'were doiiig in respect to ro'stoHngiParliament House, tho country must perforco ore long make provision for one or two public departments— in fact, without delay. . They musfc have secure accommodation'for thoir title deeds and Native Lands Department' deeds. (Hear, hear.) Tho firo had impressed upon them tho necessity for erecting a building'in which to .store many of the old records in the present Government Buildings, and in a measure to replace that building. They must'recognise that if anything happened to that building, no' monoy coula'recompense them •' for ' tho records lost. To prevent this they wero now observing double precautions. ,Thoy required to fix upon some place and a system of orecting-additional buildings without adding to the present wooden building, and necessarily to the danger from fire. Where also would tho Departments bo located if • anything happened\to the Government Building ? •Another Aspect. . He recalled his previous references to tho suggestion that Parliament should consider whether it would not pay tho country to use tho frontages in Sydney Street, Molesworth Street, and. Hill Street for .the erection of some important public buildings necessary. ' | The Government Buildings Valued. • Ho had asked tho Valuation Department to yaluo tho site upon which the Government Building stood. Its value—without including tho building, and .allowing an expenditure of £8000 for an intersecting street from Lambtoil Quay to Foathorston Street — was £260,900. A leading financier in tho city had expressed tho opinion in a very practical way, that tho block, without tho buildings, would be worth over £300,000. "But I am against the sale of . it," said the Primo Minister. (Hoar, hear.). It was impossible to foretell tho futuro expansion of a rapidly progressing city like Wellington. Ho felt sure, however, that by degrees, as tho public departments wero provided for, by leasing tho frontages they could liavo moro than sufficient to pay tho interest on tho cost of tho new Government Buildings, new Government House, and provide for a sinkina fund. Mow' Government House. A new Government House would bo required within ton years at the very outside. (Some said sis or eight years.) A

new Government House would cost £25,000. /jho Ministerial residences numbered three. j.)iese, ho did not think, would bo required, and ho had ascertained that by cutting thorn up and selling them they would' realiso £32,790. Ho was not suggesting anything that ho had not thought out thoroughly. If they decidcd to crcct half tho Parliament Building on tho present site they could then, by selling the Ministerial residential sites, provide moro than sufficient for tho Governor's house.

Mr. Tanner: You cannot sell any Crown lands in Wellington. ■ (Hear, hear.) . Sir Joseph Ward: Ho did not think this matter came under that category. The Museum. Tho . Premier continued that authority some, time ago had been given for a colonial museum building. Mount Cool; seemed tho only possible sito, but since tho Parliament fire I had brought tho whole matter of Govornmont accommodation under review, tho idea had suggested itself that the parliamentary lawn tennis court might bo used. -He continued that ho had not attempted in the slightest degree to influence tho architect in the selection of sites. He had from tho first i personally held that tho Government House sito' was tho better, especially from tho point of view of air and light. To tho,City Corporation. Ho would suggest to the City Corporation that tho-time had arrived to, consider tho , widening of adjacent streets, especially if tho Government House, sito wore selected. A conference might be held with the City Cor-, poration authorities to decide .whether tho street from Molosworth Strcot to Museum Street should not be .closed. 'Tho Premier mentioned tho extent of laud ; tho Government would willing to give tho Council in exchange'to make all the streets round the Government House block 60ft. wide, and to mako Bowen Street 90ft. wide. No Delay. ■ . • Sir Joseph W&rd proceed that, in the proposals lie had submitted, the two Chambers would bo ready for occupation ill at most eighteen months. For a considerable time past tho inadequacy of; accommodation in tho old Parliamentary Building had been borne in upon- members. (Hoar, hear.) Though there was no suggestion of extravagance in the proposals before them," thero was amplo provision for future expansion. 'Greater accommodation was wanted for the Library. In tho whole 'matter ho had no strong feeling.' He had only said what,ho, personally, thought was right. It was now for a special committeo to consider what was to be done. . He moved that tho sketch plans, do lie upon tho tablo and be lithographed. The Governor's Residence. A member: Where do you propose to .locate the Governor's residence? Mr. W." T. Wood: Palmerston'North 1 The There are two or three suitable localities: Oriental Bay, another placo upon- the hills,- and other to tho right of us now. Tho present site,- he added, was fast becoming unsuitable. This suggestion had by no means, however, come from tho Governor. _ But it was ha-dly-suitablo to havo tho Vice-Regal residence between two or threa business streets;

FURTHER DISCUSSION. MR. MASSE Y (Leader of the Opposition) said ho did not intend to discuss the proposals now, but would do so. later on. It was quite clear, howevor, that' tho Ministers had mado up their minds, though they intended placing tho responsibility upon tho Houso. Tho sooner tho ; special committee met and considered tho matter, tho better. The PRIME MINISTER said'ho did not proposo to delay setting up . tho committee. •It would,take a day or two. As far as Ministers wero concerned,.-ho knew peoplo said they' should bavo settled the matter them-, solves, but he differed from that opinion, and ho repeated his arguments of two days previous. .. , 1 .

Mr. _ BARBER ■ (Newtown), pomplimentecl tho' Prime Minister on his comprehensive- report.; Ho, would, howevor', ask if Mount Cook site had not had -much .to commend it, and whothcr it had been considered? Government owned property'on both sides oi Buckle Street: !' ;

Mr. FISHER- suggested that' Mount Cook' sito should bo' considered with tho Prime Minister's proposals. Tho site was a magni-ficent-ono. Tho tendency at present was for the city to spread southwards, and the Government's proposal'was to draw it northwards—into a corner-where it could not expand. • ' ••' ■ The. PRIME MINISTER said, ho had no objection to tho committee considering anysite. The-Government; however, had thought tho Mount Cook site too distant from the Printing and' Government offices. , Mr.' IZARD said that when tho matter came up for discussion he would show amplo reasons why Parliament should ' not bo erected on Mount Cook. Ho congratulated tho Premier on tho proposals he had brought 'down; Mr. HOGG (Masterton) supported tho Mount Cook • site. It was resolved that tho plans lie on tho tablo and bo lithographed. ADJOURNMENT. 'The PRIME MINISTER then (4.45) moved the adjournment of the House. "Wo have done very well so far,", ho said. "Wo havo passed the Imprest Supply, concluded tho Address-in-Reply, and to-morrow wo will settle down to business." .

The House adjourned until 2.30 p.m. today. -• .