PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2067, 19 December 1907, Page 1

PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

PREMIER'S LATEST ItE-BUILD-ING SCHEME. ITS SUCCESS CONSIDERED PROBLEMATICAL. INDIVIDUAL GENEROSITY DYING OUT. (Special to Times.) "WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. The N.E. Times is somewhat lukewarm in regard tp-Tlie Premier’s proposal regarding public subscriptions to rebuild Parliament House. In the course of a leading article it sa.vs: — “Of course the money for re-building will hare to be paid by tlio people in some way, but that the subscription project would fairly adjust "the proportions of the burden wo are not prepared to affirm. The opportunity for exhibiting their patriotism nowgiven to tho peoplo is certainly unique. Perhaps they will regard the object as something to bo given bv :f]l the members of the family to the head of the household by way of a Christmas present or by a grateful aggregate of constituents to a faithful aggregate of representatives by wav of a Christinas box.” The “Post” says:—“The proposal is eminently admirable as a proposal, but alas! The peoplo have got out of the habit of giving liberally for na-. tionnl project's. The practice of looking to the Government for everything lias taken a firm hold of the country, and tlie impulse of individual generosity is slowly hut surely starving to death. It would be a noble thing for themselves and posterity if the people of this country—the land whose prosperity is a by-word in the mouths of men. here and overseas—would resolve to use no borrowed money for tho To-building of Parliament House. It would be ail excellent nreeedent. it would help to strengthen the fibre which is growing slack—it would give the people a more personal interest in Parliament it might be the beginning of a new era in which the Borrow god would he less worshipped.”