PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 75, 25 March 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

i * LAYING FOUNDATION STONE.

fjC'RKSS ASSOCIATION.X (

"WELLINGTON, March 23. His Excellency the Governor laid the foundation of the new -Parliament Buildings this afternoon, a large gathering of citizens being present to witness the ceremony.

After declaring the stone well and truly laid, Lord . Islington reviewed the necessity for the undertaking. He dwelt on the happenings in connection with the New Zealand Parliament, from 1854 to the present date, displaying a thorough grip of the : events which have occurred within tho Dominion during the intervening years. Hp eulogisticaily referred to •Sir Georgo Giey, .the Hon. E. W. 'Stafford, Sir John Hall, Sir Harry Atkinson, Mr Ballance, Mr Seddon, and other conspicuous .figures, .who i.have bean identified with the Parliamentary history of the Dominion, deferring to Sit- Joseph Ward's re- | tirenient, he referred in complimentary terms to his,achievements, after a long and distinguished career. "With regard to the future he stated that he (Lord Islington) was there as representative of the Crown in New Zealand, which was a partner in the constitution. It. was recognised and accepted as such at home and abroad. As all were aware the broadening and extending of the British Constitution was gradually removing the Crown and the Crowd's representatives from the dust heap pf party controversy, which after all was the essence and vary blood and marrow of the party system. Under the Constitution the party system, though in the minds of some possessed of imperfections and anomalies, was the fixed and method of the British Government. He was aware that the function of t'iie Government,. as the world ad,vanced, in no way diminished in difiV • cutty./. Rather,-it gradually increased, and demanded more of the highest intelligence and triiest balance, of mind'to deal with the ever increasing and difficult problems which; occupy tho attention of modern Governments. He hoped before, many_ years rolled on that, there woiildbe in. the :kindred States a status assumed by Them —.a' status of 'ilniperifil citizenship—so that in effective measure all tiiay become practical partners in the responsibilities,' obligations, aiid pri:yi leges which stand outside', the purview 6f local Government, but which a fleet the. common ' interests ; of the Empire and which can only be satisfactorily solved' 'by representative Federal deliberations. Tie exhorted all in New Zealand to build well and, build generously. Being a young country no one living/could;gauge the ''eventful destiny thatmiay'be reached. "The national assets of the, country justifieH the/,ambitions and, 'preparations, for the! future. . :-. v .

•Sir Joseph Ward said that the peo-: pie had had ah Opportunity of realising; what it Was to have a good man as "the . King's representative. Sis, 1 Excellency's advisers, had received'| nothing but courtesy, kindness and consideration at his hands. The^ Governor did not take a mere passing interest in the. events-of the country. He left nothing undone which made , for the good of the country. Jn connection -with the scheme they were: inaugurating that '■., day, he mentioned that '40;000 would be saved the country as an ouleome of the alterations | ■ made.. " . ■.••■,■■■•■....• ■■ •■■■• j The Hoii. 'R. McKenzie said that j not one penny, more than was necessary, would be spent on the bxiilding. which %vGtiia cost'2s 2d per head of the population of the Dominion. When.'the whole building scheme was completed it would tost 4s Cd per head. That could not be termed extravagance. The scheme .would .cost. a quarter of a.million." ' ' ; „/ Cheers, for Lord Islington, Sir •Joseph Ward and Lady Ward terminated the proceedings. . _~' The stone is inscribed: G. R.—This *tone was laid Ibythe , Right Hon. Xoi-d Islington, P. 0.. K.C.M.G D.5.0., Governor,.,on 23rd March. 1912; the Right Hon. Sir. Joseph Wai-a; Bart.P.C, K.C.MIG. D.C.L., L.L.D., Primb Minister; the Hon ■ lloaerick McKenzie. Minister .for Public Works; John Campbell F.R.1.8.A., Architect.