PARLIAMENT HOUSE SITE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 267, 4 August 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT HOUSE SITE.

■Sir, —The offer of Mr.' T, Kempton, of Elm: Grove, Groytown,;.is :a move on which he is to bo congratulated. It is one that possibly ffiahy more of our prosperous Wairarapar settlers, might .well follow. Mr. Kempton offers 50 acrcs of his Moroa land for the aboyfe. site, and why should it not be nc-. ceptcd? Hero wo are 50 miles from tho Em-' piro City, and' when the Rimutaka line-, is deviated we will bo within'two' hours bf Wellington. Parliament. House and the necessary offices could bo built on that area, and would' be well away from any city conflagration, and yet have water ready for any. fire within itself. All communications could bo as well made here- as in Wellington., Greytown is noted, for. its healthy environment and its'scenery; .fishing, and shooting. The members could do business and enjoy pleasure at tho s.ame.time... It is not a question of Greytown l ; it is one. of the Wairarapa versus Manawatu, or any other named place.*. The Wairarapa is well inland, and free from, any rapid inroad;of an enemy. It could be" well garrisoned at "a few hours' notice'for all parts of tho North Island. , The" argument that an inland town | should bo tho seat of Govornm'cnt is a sound one, and'..one • tho- Government - of' "tho' .day • will have tho power of deciding. Because in the early days.-the capital was'fixed at Auckland, that was not irrevocable. When the time came Wellington's '.central'-position wrosted it from the northern city. The'time is now opportune for another"change, and the- Wairarapa leads in tho van every time. A most generous offer has been madeby one of our. respected settlers. Will any 'more come forward to help .sing .the cry "Excelsior!" How? Why, put their hands in their pockets and niako .the cheque hook ■ speak volumos. Create a fund to help a building fund. Force the hands of Government with generosity. 'One. scittler- (ilono has of- : ferod £6000 for a public, .purpose. _.. Lot. ..a. few more of our wealthy magnates do likewise. ..... Let Wairarapa's watchword be "forward," all the time and every time. Have confid-ence-within itself, and instil it. in others, and it must. go. forward. "Looking at it from a moro sordid side, if Parliament Buildings are erected "here, what about values of land? What about closer settlement? Whali about the hundreds of pcoplo it will bring to the Wairarapa? Those that giyo will bo doubly recouped in; increased value of their lands. There are other points • that other pens 'can point' to' that will " show why we should be honoured as '.tlie "Empire City" of tho Colony.—l am, etc., • " • MARKMAXTON. Greytown, August 1, 1903 . .