PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 6, 2 October 1926, Page 8

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

ERECTION OF NEW WING

TIME NOT OPPORTUNE

A RENOVATION ONLY <

"After going carefully into facts and figures and bearing in mind the need for economy which the present position of the country's finances demands, the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) has come to the conclusion that it would be inexpedient to proceed in the meantime with the construction of the new wing of the Parliamentary Buildings. Instead it is proposed to undertake certain renovations of the old wooden building almost immediately.

In announcing a decision to this effect yesterday Mr. Williams said he had made h clear during the debate on the Public Works Statement in the House that the policy he thought should be followed with respect to public works would be to check expenditure where it could be justly curtailed and to closely watch expenditure on buildings. It was his opinion that the next two years would not be particularly bright for the Dominion’s primary products, and, in addition,. no one wanted to see the country embark on too big a policy Of borrowing. “It will be remembered,’’ added the Minister, “that during the debate on the Statement 1 replied to members’ queries with the statement that I intended to consider the advisability of putting the old wooden building in a state of repair in the meantime, deferring the proposed new additions until the country is in a better financial position to' warrant what would undoubtedly be a heavy expenditure. At taht time I was not in possession of all the particulars of the estimated cost of the new wing, but I have since found that the sum necessary would be a much larger amount than I am prepared to ask for. or than I ought to commit the country to, at the present juncture. Deciding Factors. “In deciding to defer the erection of the new wing,” continued the Minister, “I am influenced a good deal, as I have already indicated, by the position of the country, the demands for work that are being made everywhere, and the difficulty of meeting these demands. There is no justification for expenditure that can be avoided, and I believe that what money we have to spend will be much better expended in more productive works. Estimated Cost, £2700. “Since the session closed,” proceeded Mr. Williams, “I have had the whole matter under serious consideration, and recently I issued instructions for the preparation of an estimate of the sum necessary -to renovate the old wing, including repairs where necesary ami painting. Departmental experts who' have examined the building assure me that from a structural point of view it is in sound condition, atid with the necessary repairs effected will last for manv years to come. The renovation, it is estimated, will cost about £2700, and it is-proposed to put the work, which is to be done bv the Public Works Department, in hand at once.” The Minister stated that the exterior of the building would be given a coat of paint and the roof would be overhauled with a view to stopping leakages. Certain interior alterations would be made in order to improve conditions in the staff quarters at Bellamy’s.