PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 15, 18 July 1910, Page 7

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. It is understood that the Financial Statement, to be delivered to-morrow night, will contain the Government's proposals with regard to the new Parliament House, which will some flay be erected on or about the existing site. The street widening proposals of the Government having been endorsed by the City Council, it now only remains for Parliament to vote the necessary sum of money to defray the cost. As, under that scheme, the Government will have one compact block of land, extending from Hill-street to Bowen-street, it will be able to dispense with the tube and erect one big block of buildings, which, fronting Lambton-quay, will be a worthy successor to the old edifice. The probable cost would, it is estimated, be about £180,000, and the front portion, including thft Chamber of the House of Representatives, could be erected without interfering with the present building. That pavt would cost some £90,000, and would provide ample accommodation for 'Parliament for some six or eight years. in addition, new fireproof departmental offices will be erected on the old Parliament Buildings site, and it was long ago suggested that, as the old wooden Government Buildings are rapidly approaching their age limit, the site on which they stand could be leased for business purposes. Tho site is said to be worth £300,000, and it is calculated that if the area_ was leased, the rental would tie sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on the whole cost of the new Parliamentary and Departmental buildings.