THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15581, 3 April 1911, Page 6

THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

The architects who interviewed the Hon R. M'Konzie on Saturday evening with regard to the competitive designs for the new parliamentary buildings did not receive very sympathetic replies to the more important of their suggestions. We aro disposed to think, however, that somo of tho points which were raised by Mr Hurst Seager and tho other members of tho deputation deserve a littlo further consideration from the Minister. It will bo most unfortunate, fo r example, if the failure of the conditions already drafted to comply with the requirements of the Institute of Architects should cause men prominent in the profession to refrain from competing. Tho encouragement of youthful genius is a very excellent thing in a' general way, but the party most deeply concerned in the result of this competition is the dominion, which wants the best building it can possibly got for its money. Then it is quite obvious that an enormous amount of labour will bo wasted if the competitors are not told just what accommodation they are expocted to provide. The question of the size of the main chamber and its galleries is one of policy, not of architectural design, and the Government seems to bo the proper authority in such a matter. Tho deputation mentioned that the conditions provided for a chamber to accommodate "at least one hundred members" and did not specify tho extent of the galleries at all, and tho Minister suggested a neat argument against himself at once by remarking that in his "private opinion " there should be seats for one hundred and fifty members. The reasonabo course for tho Government to pursue would be. to prepare a definite list of the country's requirements in tho matter of tho new building and leave the architects to exercise their skill and ingenuity in the arrangement of tho details.