PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 7

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

THE TEMPORARY SCHEME. WAS THE FIRE ACCIDENTAL? (Faou Our Ov::-' Cokkescokdeht.) WELLINGTON, UeccmL-cr 5. A discussion cDimetted with the circum,ttinces arising out of the lire at tho Into Parliament House took [dace in the House during tho early houifi of yesterday morning. Mr James Allen pointed otit that, according to the Estimates, the cost of the temporary residence for the Governor and staff last year was £2879, whilst £766 d vas expended on tho present Parliamentary Building. It would be seen that tin; vote with respect to the Parliamentary lluildings this year was £3500, whilst tho partial restoration of the old Parliamentary Buildings was also to run into £3500, and, in addition to those n\mv, £2000 had to be set apart for the cost of tho temporary residence for the Governor. He would like to know how nitic'h expenditure had so far been necessitated as a result of the fire at the former Parliament House. Did it amount to £30,000? Tito Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. M'Kcnsrie): Oh, no! Mr Allen: Well, I have shown that ipproximately £10,500 was spent in this ilmeelion hist year and that £9000 additional appears on the Estimates for this yt-ar. Those two items make ji total of close on £20,C00. . The Hon. It. M'Kcnzie stated that tho cost of tho new Legislative Council Chamber did not appear on the Estimates, but would be given in the Public Works Estimates. Mr Allen: Well, I don't think I will bo far from, the mark, because there bavo also to be taken into account the allowance paid in consideration of the stoppage of tho contract for additions to the old Parliamentary Buildings and the cost of the Governor's new residence. Mr Ma.-.<cy eaid he hoped the Government would ,icc the folly of going on with Hie extravagant scheme which it had inaugurated. He believed that even nonit would pay the Government to 'admit that a great mistake had been made and proceed to rc-ereet the demolished portion of the old building. If it did not, do so he knew what would happen. Parliament would have to stay in the present unsatisfactory building for another live or six years. Tho Prime Minister replied that if the Leader of the Opposition, had had his wav the outlay would have been doubled. After the lire a place had to Ire found for Parliament to hold ils sittings. Mr Ma-sscy had suggested that Parliament could have met in the library rooms if. the old building, but this proposal was a grotesque absurdity. In the first- place there would bavo been insuflicient accommodation, and secondly, the work of repairs and additions would have occasioned a great deal of discomfort and worse. Members would have no reason to complain if Parliament, were carried on in the present building for live or six years. It was (juiU) good enough for the purpose, peeing that economies were being cavrijii out. The amount spent on alterations and reconstructions was not as much as it would have cost for the rental for other buildings. Before the Government was finished it would be able to make provision for the repayment of the whole expenditure, including sinking fund, and do it effectively. Whatever was don» would not bo for a year but probably for ever. To rebuild on the old site would be a niLsbkc. WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE? Mr Massey at this stago said ho would like very much to know what caused the fire in the old Parliamentary Buildings lite firo was not accidental, and there were people in the Parliamontarv Buildings who knew that to be the case." Unfortunately ;, lnf i °™ation which bad reached him »„ the subject was of a confidential nature. Ho honestly believed what he had been Ujd to be the case. He did not lenow .o was actually responsible for the lire, but ho would gtve something to fmd out J. Joseph Ward: Except in connection «•«> rumour* that were .moat at the time 1 ave ..ever hc:,rd anything of tic & to h I?' 1 to the bottom of it. * Mr Massey said that as regards LcU and figures i ho Prim S \! * '*« had talked the most ™tcr non ™«m that he had ever he, « £20,000 had been spent indi fc Government s scheme. J] r Allen: More like £40,000 Mr Ma*e yi And the money'«, f ar i,a< been thrown away. He again" advised th Government to reconsider its scheme ?.° l ,nrthl ' r rol e™nce was made to the subject. ""•