A PROBLEM OF SITES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 247, 11 July 1908, Page 4

A PROBLEM OF SITES.

A debate on the sites problem occupied the House of Representatives for practically the whole of yesterday. Everybody is glad to welcome a little humour as an agreeable change in Parliament, but tho circumstances—and, wo must reluctantly add, the humour-content of the Househardly warranted tho devotion of a■ whole day to tho discussion of such an unpractical proposition as that the seat of Government should bo removed from Wellington. Mr. T. Mackenzie struck the right note when ho suggested Waikouaiti as a suitable site, but a few of the debaters seem to have missed tho gentlo satire of this suggestion. It may be said at once that there is no prospect of a chango. Even if Wellington' were not the best location, there would be no chance, unless the country went suddenly mad and in a Socialistic frenzy decided to found a nationalised city, of obtaining a popular verdict in favour of any other site. Even if Mr. Laurenson were correct in his prophecy that a referendum would yield " a vote of ten to one in favour of moving the capital," tho same referendum would yield a vote of twenty to one against its being moved to A, or to B, or to any other place that might be mentioned. Tho Little Peddlingtons will neutralise each other's zeal. The public is not yet equal to Mr. Tanner in mental telescopy, and though he, happy man, may be able to " look ahead, not for years, but for centuries," the rest of us are content to look at tho things under our noso and keep a wary eye on the path immediately before us. The seat of Government is fixed beyond disturbance by tho Socialists.

A much more useful subject of discussion would have been the site of tho Governor's new home. It is believed, and a reference in the Prime Minister's speech on" Thursday of last week ( very strongly suggests, .that tho Government contemplates placing His Excellency somewhere in the Botanical Gardens. Seldom friendly to this city, often bitterly hos--tile to its interests, in tho past, as every Wellington citizen is well aware, tho Government must be very closely watched in this connection. The conservation of its scenic roserves and recreation grounds is a duty of the first importance •to this city, and the citizens must therefore be on the alert to resist any encroachment upon their possessions. Of course, by utlising its majority, of which the pendancy of the elections ensures the submisaiveness, tho Government could, if it chose, inflict any kind of injustice upon Wellington. But even Wellington may make an effective protest against any interference with the Botanical' Gardens that is not vory amply paid for in some way. Thero arc,/unfortunately, reasons to believe that some members of the City Council may lean towards an unnecessary generosity in any deal that tho Government may propose. The first duty of the Mayor and Councillors, however, is to their city. Political considerations should not weigh with any member of the Council. Wherever His Excellency's new home is "located, it must not mean a curtailment of the all too limited breathing spaces of this city. .