The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1912. COSTLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1429, 2 May 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1912. COSTLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

It would seem that a very determined effort is to be made to induce the new Minister for llailways . to supply that "much-felt want" in Wellington—a more commodious railway station. Naturally there are differences of opinion as to the class of structure required, but that the present insignificant buildings are inadequate, if not discreditable, is generally conceded. Until the Government took over the Manawatu Company's line there was a very good excuse for delaying the putting in hand of this work. There was also some excuse, we believe, in the_ fact that certain leases of land likely to be utilised in connection with any changes in station and yards, were about to expire, and the laiul revert to the Crown. But the Manawatu Company's line has now been in the hands of the Government for a very considerable time, and the leases mentioned expired many months ago, and yefc the delay over the promised new station building has continued. The i matter, of course, is not a parochial I one. It; is true that the citizens of Wellington will probably benefit by the increased conveniences that would be provided, and the city certainly lose nothing by the removal of the ugly little structure that does duty at Lambton at the present time; but the convenience of the general travelling public and the improved facilities that would be afforded the railway officers in carrying out their duties are more important factors to bo taken into account. As a matter of fact the question of whether or not the new station is needed has got beyond the controversial stage; its necessity is universally conceded. The nature of the buildings to be erected is, however, another matter. We are quite in agreement with thoso who hold the view that the tendency is to err on 1 the side of extravagance in the matter of our public buildings, and that tho surplus money could be turned to more profitable account in other directions. Wellington requires a railway station which will not only serve the needs of the immediate present, but which will make provision j for the future development of a progressive city and for the growth and increasing productivity of the large area of country served by tho railway lines which have their terminal points here. But it does not need an elaborate structure such as so much of the public funds was needlessly wasted on in Dunedin. A few days ago the new Surveyor-General, Mr. James Mackenzie, a gentleman possessing an intimate knowledge of the lot of the back-blocks settler, made these remarks:

"I hope," he said, "I am not trenching on politics, but lot your railways get a rest for a your or two, and let the money be devoted to getting tho men who hnvo only a track at present tomo sort of access to their holdings. Many people cannot reacli the .Main Trunk line without going twenty or thirty miles. Let tho railway;; rest lor a bit, and k't us have good —1 don't wish to see extravagant—roads; but just onlimiiT access to their homes in the back-blocks. What these people havo to contend with makes u lerriblo (oil ill the bit.-h. Imagine .six children carried over imnmlaiii top? on mother's and father's backs, dying before aid of any kind could be made available. I knotv of "-omen ivho. .rather thiin return to tlieir itTilntion in the fai buck, conunit jjuLcjde, .(tan runs fixfiiait JWs Aoi swx,

but dozens of times when trnvcllin" through the back districts. Xothiii" is really more necessary than innkhw roads m the fur back." " It is not our purpose here to discuss tho neglect of tho.back-blocks settler. Uu havo exposed again and again the neglect- ot tlie "Liberal" Government Vo expend even the money voted by i\irlininent to improve the lot of the country .settler in the way of voads. Wo merely quote Mit. Mackenzie's remarks to illustrate the point that the present is not a time for luxuries when there is so much need for necessaries, For some unnxpl.iincd reason, the Mackenzie government has rushed on the work in connection with the erection of the new-Parliament buildings, and so Car as cm be learned very costly i'mindatioLis are being put in before a definite decision lias been arrived ;it as to the exact nature of the building to be erected thereon. Wskt is l-o be the cost of this undertaking! Who can say? The country should not be asked to go blindly into such ■works as this. So far as the railway station is concerned, as wo have stated above, it is urgently needed, but it is to be hoped that the necessities of the occasion will be reasonably and rapidly met without any undue extravagance. ■