A UTOPIAN SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 5

A UTOPIAN SCHEME.

HHE CAPITAL SITE,

DISOTSSION IN WBI/TAMENT.

Mr. G. Laurenson, tho member for Lyfc lelton, during a discussion on tho F,*li. mates in tho House of Representatives yesterday, set out to propose that Hie capital sito should bo shifted, from Wellington. Ho would a=k tho House whu--2 wo f uW to go on with tho iu i-° , ne,v PnTl "»ucntary Buildings at Wellington, or whether it would nSt be, wisel to uelcct a new «ito nltogethor. Mr. Allen: What about Iho .CIK.OOO? Jiir. Laureiihon admitted that. this amount had been sunk. At the same ■time, ho said, putting down the amount sunk at A'lOO.Ou-t) if was a mere llcabite. it would bo an excellent thing to shift hoso Parliamentary Buildings to an entirely new Bite. A block of land could »e obtained away from any existing city, either up towards Hie Wairarapa-(hear, ieai;)-in .'J'ai'anaki-(hear, hcar)-or dowu behind Bleuheim-flicar, hear). Tho cost or laying out .1 modern city with accommodatiou for 10,000 people would" be about fS'X J J J? t ? 1 " 1 cost would 1)e a,,out J. 900,000. Half tho interest on this sum could bo obtained in ground-rents at tho new site, and from sites in Wellington now occupied by Departmental buildings. J ho scheme would pay from tho very iirst, and within a quarter of a century the ground rents of the new city would pay tho whole cost of the legislative departments. Mr. Laureiison moved to reduco tho item "Parliamentary Buildings ±'1500,' as an indication that, during tho recess, the Government should' make inquiries into tho question of shifting tho capital. ■ ~ Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) declined lo follow up "the Utopian schemes" of tho member who had just sat down; it .was too late in the day. Mr. Anderson then announced his intention of getting back lo mundane affairs, and began to talk about a courthouse at Winton And polico barracks at Mataura. When Mr. Lanrenson nc.it epoko he said that his proposal would arouso a howl of indignation from Wellington, but they were not there to consider Wellington. They did not want to injure Wellington, which was bound to bo a great city whatever they did. ' Mr. E. Newman (liangitikei) said that if (.ho lion, gentleman added to his amendment (hat the capital should be shifted lo Marlon Junction ho would support it. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christclmrch North) appealed to the Government to set up e committee., The Hon. It.! M'Kenzio said (list there was nothing at all Utopian about the proposal of the member for Lytlelton, He had supported it four years previous' ly. If ho had his way, lie would establish the capital on the shores of Lake Tanpo, Lake Wakalipn, or Lake Kotoiti (iii Nelson). Mr. G. M. Thomson said that lie was nol: prepared to vote to reduce tho Estimates, but would support the proposal of the member for Lyttelton on another occasion. •■ • Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) said that experience showed tho unwisdom of having a capital so near (he sea as Wellington. Sir. Hemes: Experience has shown the reverse. Mr. linsEell: What'about Washington? Mr. Hcrries: It has been"sacked once. Mr. W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa) said that in Australia people had succeeded in making fools of themselves over the capital question. On a largo scale they had arrived at a position much tho samo as members could view through tho windows. If the common-senso of New Zealand were appealed to to-day, on tho question raised by tho hon. member for Lyttelton, tho reply would bo ridicule and condemnation. There was a movement in tho Wairarapa in favour of ehifting the capital, but he recognised that the capital must remain in Wellington. . The Hon. D. Buddn (Kaiapoi) believed tho proposal was impracticable, because ho did not think tho representatives of tho country would consider tho expenditure of such' a' large sum as would be necessary for the establishing of a new capital.

Mr. ,T. A. Toting (Waikato) did not think the scheme for establishing a model capital city in New Zealand was at all Utopian or ethereal. The proposal waa certainly worth inquiry. Mr. Laurenson said he had no wish to have tho item reduced, and ho would wilhdraw_ his amendment, and give notice of n motion to deal with the question, if tlio Priino Minister would Rive tho House an opportunity of discussing it. Tho Hon. W. V. Massey (Prime Ministor) said ho had mado so many promisee to give afternoons to different, questions that ho did not. feel like granting; this request. Ho suggested that it'might be rnised on an Imprest Supply Bill. Mr Laurenson, on being assured that Mr. Massey would not treat the. question as a motion of want of confidence, withdrew his amendment.