PARLIAMENT'S HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 72, 25 March 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENT'S HOUSE

NEW BUILDING COMMENCED, j SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR. | SATURDAY'S CEREMONY. The ccreir.ony of laying the foundation stone of the new Parliament BuiltlI ings wub performed by His Excellency j the Governor on Saturday afternoon, in tho picscnrc of a largo assemblage, of interested spectators, including- Ministers of the Crown, menhirs of Parliament, public oScialij and others. His Excellency was received by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), the Hon. It. M'Hcuzifl (Minister of Public Works), and Mr. J. Campbell (Government Architect), and at onco presented by the Hoc. 11. M'Kcnzie witk a silver trowei, as a memento of the occasion, on behalf of the people of New Zealand. THE GOVERNORS SPEECH. -Hl3 Excellency then laid the litoce, and addressed the gathering. Ho was present, he said, in response to an invitation acceded to him by the Prime Minister, to perform the ceremony of laying the foundation stojie or the new Parliament Buildings. The occasion. had evidently end naturally a largo concourso of the citizens oi New Zpafand to * witness tlio initial steps of building what, when eiectsd, would be so clcsely interwoven with, the destinies and interests of tho people of this country- Indeed, ha might add that those interests would in no small measure be influenced by the work that would bo- carried; on! in tho building. The necessity for that new bailing was common knowledge to all- Some years had elapsed since, in. 1907, a disastrous fire took place which partially destioyed the old House of Parliament, and* in a few hours ruthlessly deprived the people of the Dominion and their chosen representatives of their place of assembly. During the intervening period that had elapsed temporary chambers bad been improvised in which was formerly the Uovemor a residence. He need not dwell on tho disabilities nor on the inconvenience that necessarily hau been attached to that inevitably temporary arrangement, nor to the inadequate and unsuitable character of the premises thus improvised. He had no doubt there were many present that day who were qualified to speak with feeling and emphasis on the subject. It was sufficient for him to say that the present accommodation could only be regarded as temporary in charcter. until such time as would allow plans and designs being drawn out and approved for Parliament Buildings of such a character, quality, and dignity, and appearance as would reflect in the years to come, to the credit of New Zealand and its Parliamentary institutions, and give reasonable scope for that extension, of business and improvement of the country which, might -be confidently predicted as being its sure destiny in the generations to come. That New Zealand would possess such a building as he had ventured to describe, which would meet the aspirations of the most exacting, he felt sure from the opportunity that had been afforded him of^ inspecting the designs, and from information that had been granted to him in regard to the details ol the building about to be erected. RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PAST. On an occasion like this, when they were entering upon the construction of the most important natioual building in New Zealand, there must linger in the minds of some, especially of those more advanced in 'years, a host of cherished recollections and associations in connection with the old successive past Parliament Buildings, in which men had taken bo prominent and honourable a part in the founding and development of this country. He would not dwell at any length, on those buildings, commencing as they did in tho year 1854in Auckland, transferred in the following year to this city, with, buildings erected in 1865, new ones erected in 1870, and largely extended during the years 1893 and 1894. That last building which was now partially removed from their eight formed the centre and the nursery of the political and social system of New Zealand of to-day. Within its walls the comparatively short history of New Zealand could claim to nave produced a most creditable list of able and patriotic public men, who eafh and all iv their generation contributed their share to the political and social system which found its reflection to-day in the hijjh standard of life and wellbeing of the people of New Zealand. He had only to mention such names as Grey, Stafford, I'ox, Hall, Atkinson, Ballance, and Seddon — names among many others who held a conspicuous position as Parliamentarians, and who each, iji their turn contributed their full share towards the social life of this country. TRIBUTE TO SIR JOSEPH. Coming to more recent history, he would like to take that opportunity of alluding most cordially to their Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, v/ho was about io relinquish the position after a long and distinguished career in the public service of New Zealand. (Applause.) fie would like to say, from his own peisoual experience during tho past two jeaas, that he would ever remember with pleasure and satisfaction tfie unvarying courtesy and willing attention that had during that time marked Sir Joseph's relations towards himtelf iv his capadty as His Excellency's chief Minister. (Hear, Hear.) DOMINION AXD EMPIRE. !X<nv, from that short retrospect tel him lor one moment turn his remarks to tho futuif and :iil that lay before it. He was there that d&y as representative of lhe Cwa in New Zealand, and therefore * wmr.w in the "Constitution, recognised and accepted as unlh, both ai J toma ami through the Domiaions of tha Emoire, who, a& they . were aware, were broadening and extending their constitutions as giadually and almost, insensibly to i«movu lho Crown, and the Clown's leprceentativs from the dust aud heat of party controveiey, which, after .all, was in essence the very blood and marrow nl thai Parliamentary system undei the Constitution. Tho party t>ystem in tlio Constitution, though in the minds 01 soma it might pofieces imperfections here and anomalies there, was at the sanio lirue the Used and ordpred method of British Coveiuineat. It had been tatablished in tho agee pact in the Old Country, and it had been extended into all those distant legions throughout the world whsre new nations under the Ciown had been founded. Under that Fyct«n parties eanie and paities went, Ministries rose and Ministries fell, but Parliament ever moved on, undisturbed, in one .continuous march. So that whilst ihe Constitution was built 01; the edifice and foundation of controversy, there ever survived, and with the biasing of Providence would ever continue, that corporate life uf Parliament which stands above imd beyond party, vrhieh constitutes the political link by which grievances can be redressed, reforms inaugurated, progress ensi/rcd, and the nation guided burely on its course. (Ayplaufcc.) DIFFICULTIES OP GOVERNMENT. lb vtai in chat bpirit and imbued with vUvsb Kcolkctkn^axid expjxtatiww that,

he caoio in. lay that foundation-stono. He was a'.vare, and it was Manifest lo all of them, that th© function of government, n« the world advt'ncee and as progress and dvil:«Htdon t>tride forward, in no _\vay dnuinishej in difficulty. Jjatlnu 1 it greatly increased in complicat:jn and in intricacy, and demanded eom'spondingly men of the highest intolUjjonce and wideut vision and the truce t balanco of mind to drai with th*x-e over increasingly difficult functions whirli peitain to our modern govei'a:ucat. VSDER THE BMI'JSH FLAtJ. V."hen liiat new building had been create. l their Houtes of Paxliamcut Avould take ilieiv place aloug with other Parliaments iA the selx-govenring nations under the BiiLieh Ua^. They had witnessed in recent yeai.s the iuauguml ceremouy of the Federal Parliament of Aua-ti-alu^ by his _ prebent ilajebLy tho King, likewise the inception of the Unicit I'ar-lia-m-ent of South Africa, by tho Kings representative, the Duke of Conuaught, and now he, ao the King's representative, deemed it an honour and a privilege to be performing that national and Imperial ceremony on behalf of New Zealand. (Applause.) It was indeed an inspiring reflection for the British subject ttiat in each country he had mentioned, and including with them the Mother Country and tho Dominion of Ca-uada, thero w-eie to-day iirmly and permiincntly established free and unfettered Parliaments, each in their own wj.y_ and in accordance with their own aspiratiom; \vorking out tho solution of their own national problems, whilet tit the same time knit together by the central link of unity as partners in oul Empire. Here he would venture the earnest hope, a hope, he was cure. shared by ever;/ patriotic subject present, and in the Empire, that as national citizen ship is enjoyed in its full realisation today in each State of the Empire, so in like manner, before many more years ! had rolled by, there mi»ht/ be in the Imperial Stale« aeeumed by them the statue and the position of Imperial citl- | zenship as wal) — (hear, hear) — so that in j effective measure all might become practical partners in those responsibilities, obligations, and privileges, which stand outside thb purview of local government, ] and which affect the common interests of the Empire, and can only be held upon a. satisfactory and permanent basis by representative federal deliberation and discussion. (Applause.) He would venture to say to all of them and to thftr^ fellow citizens in New Zealand that this new j building would be built generously. "You are," said Hk Excellency, "a young and | developing country. No one living to- j day can accurately gauge the eventual destiny you may reach. The national assets of thi6 country justify the ambitious predictions for your futur* — (applause) — and aa in the early days of the United States the capital was built in Washington with far-teeing prescience of such a character, such a stature, to await in a- subsequent age the growth and extension of the country till it corresponded to ita dignified dimensionu, co you in New Zealand can in like manner build your national house not merely for to-day, not merely for to-morrow, but rather as an emblem and a symbol of that growth and development of your country thai' you have every human reason to anticipate will be realised in subsequent generations. Finally, to all the citizens of New Zealand, I urge that it may ever continue to bo their fixed reeolve throughout the years to and to send to th© walls of this new building when erected public-spirited and patriotic representatives^ who, as the trustees of their generation, may with judgment and a disinterested eenee -of duty discharge the responsible taiks entrusted to them— these tasks which will redound to the honour and the welfare of New .Zealand and the security and stability of the Empire." (Loud applause.) THE PRIME MINISTER. Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with applause, said the tpeeeh they bad heard iiom His Excellency the Governor would assist in welding the link of Empire between the diffeient States, and. ha also thanked His Excellency for ih« kindly words he had uttered about nimself. (Applause.) He, in turn, as one of His Excellency's Advb-ers, wished to say that every member of the Administration had experienced at the hands of the Governor nothing but courtesy, consideration, and kindness in every pessible way. (Applause.) His Excellency did not take a meie passing interest in the affairs of the people of the 'Dominion, and they knew that he left nothing undone to make the people of J the country realise that ho is associated with them in every posbible way that made for the good of the country. (Hear, hear.) On the official side (arid he ±>poka with personal knowledge) His Excellency took great pains to thoioughly familiarise himself with all the high and responsible duties attaching to hi« position iv connection with the work of the administration of the xountry. Above aIL and beyond all there had never been the smallest departure from tho strictly neutral position that a Governor occupied, and by his actions he had won the confidence of every clasfr in the community. (Applaut-e.) A QUESTION OF SITE. He did not suppose there were many people in Wellington, and certainly there were few outside it, who realised what wa a the tobt of the selection of that site and what effect it was going to have on the future of Wellington anil ox the Government. Something likesix acres cf land vrcre available Icr tho future construction of buildings that in the ordinary course of time, would bo required, as the countty extended. Aheady thu selection of thai . K ite had saved the country scmetliin^ I like £40,000. In years to come the land en which the old Government buildings stand would be available for coirunerchl puiposi's. That land would then be worth batw^en £550,000 and £400,000. and he ventured to predict than in let»s than twenty yeuic the Government i would, out of the revenue derived fiom <lu> lease -of that bkfck, provide :i-..t only the intermit ov the cost ot the new Gcvemof's «ssideuce and ths ntw Parliament Buildings, but a sinking fund that wc^id wip^ out the total cast of both. (Applause.) In carrying oat' such .0 work us thii th;y nnist not look to t<*-iHerrow alone. They must survey the proposal us a whole and consider what the future Years might mjuire, and he _ ventured to hay tbafc tn« moil fastidioiis would eventually agree that th& K/'heuie was for the- benefit of tho couutiy oucl of the City of Wellington itself. (Applause.) He hoped that .the men leturued to IL2 eo.iuselii of the nation :n this country y."?uld be bicad-mind-ed men, rnc-n who did not legislate upon pd»ochial lines, m.m \/Ik> would regard che;nisive<; as? trusts?.- for th* Dominion and as such would havt> :tf heartthe interests, of every class oi th»» community. And if they were animated 1 by the high t'esne, which h» was .ruro thd people- of the Dominion felt at piceent. to make- New Zealand a still greater and noblet- part of the British Empire, they _ would be doing a' vast amount to bring about that solidavity of the Empire which, the-y all aspire*d to. (Applause.) MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie said they had assembled to celebrate a very giua-t event iv the' history of the country, and he wa& very pleased indeed to see that the people of 'Wellington took such a k€oii f intevefct in celebrating that yvent. The occasion •would havo great influence, ou ths. future nrcmas and

development of New Zealand ai> a whole; in fact, Parliament Houso ought to be the leading institution — the principal building — in every country that formed a part of the> British Empire. It ought to be an institution that future generations could look at with j^i-ide and satisfaction that their ancestors left t-hem something to be pioud of. The provision that was being made now was not at all extra vacant. There was not a single shilling being spent that was not absolutely necps»ary : The part- that was now to be cr-ected would cnly cc6t tho population of Xew Zealand 2^ 2d per nead, and wh°n lho whole scheme was coniEleted tho cost to Ihe people would not 0 more than 4s 6d a 'head. Most people, 113 thought, wuuld admit that that wr.fi not- aii extravagant price io pay for tlie housing of Parliament, whilu 110 declared that the situ was the finest that could be found in tho City of Wellington. To Sir Joseph. Ward belonged the credit, of having chosen, tliut site, and his colleagues recognised that lho building ought to bo started — should .have been started — tome time ago, and they concluded that it was fitting that Sir Joseph Ward should- be present on that occasion on the eve of fiin leaving tho Government — for a. time at least. A voice : A pit v, too. "I admit it ib a great loss to the people of this country," said Mr. M'Kenzie, " that the country is going to lose him for a time. The only thing we can do is to hope he will ace his way clear to com© back and tako the government of tho country at the earliest passible opportunity." (Applause.) Sir Joseph, he went on to t-a-y, was responsible- for starting the building. A great deal of time and thought and work was necessary before they could start a building th*at would cost more than n, quarter of a- million. The sum of £100,003 was -being spent on the portion now to bo -erected, and they would have as comforta-blo a Parliament buildings a<> any in Australasia. They wanted to oiake it a building that they would be proud 01, ti)a.i would compare favourably with similar buildings in other part 6of the world. Parliament, when this building was completed, would be- housed v comfortably, which would havo a very great effect on the legislation of the country. (Applause.) Th» gathering concluded with three cheers for His Excellency tho Governor and Lady Islington and for Sir Joseph and Lady Ward.