PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 5

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

WOODEN PORTION TO'BE DEMOLISHED. NEW STRUCTURE TO BE COMPLETED. Cabinet haß decided (hat the old wooden portion of Buildings shall be demolished at the and of the oomdng session, and a start made with the laying of the foundations for the southern wing of the new building. The old building, which WU3 formerly Government House, has for many yea is been, an eyesore. At present the Prime Minister and several other Ministers have their offices there, but, of course, it will be necessary later on ‘or them to move to new quarters, some of which are all ready to receive them,; in, the main building. So far as the internal arrangements of the new wing are concerned, it is understood that some departure uiav be made from‘the original plana. Bellamy’s will be accommodated in the new- portion. It is passible that the Government will go right ahead with the completion of Parliament Buildings, dome mid all, but the process may be spread ever a ifairlv considerable period oa the scoro or heavy expense involved. The pre-war estimate of the cost of the first portion of the new Parliament Buildings was £161,639, but because of the war and other troubles the final cost was greatly in exoess of the original tender. In additioil to Bellamy's the new wing to be built will 'accommodate the library and the committee rooms.