PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25503, 5 April 1944, Page 6

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

RENOVATIONS TO OLD SECTION IMMEDIATE START WITH WORK (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Apl. 4. Renovations to the old wooden portion of Parliament Buildings are to be carried out during the next four months while Parliament is not sitting. An announcement to this effect was made in the House of Representatives to-day by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser. He said that conditions had become so bad for the staff in the catering department that steps had to be taken by the House Committee and the Speaker to effect improvements. In spite of the desire of everyone to postpone the alterations and the inevitable expense, it had become necessary to undertake the renovations, Mr Fraser said. There were, of course, plans for the rebuilding of the old portion of Parliament Buildings, but these were out of the question at present. It had been found after lengthy consideration, however, that there was no option but to carry out the alterations, which would meet the needs of the next 10 or 15 years. There would be some interference? with the catering for those whose business brought them into the building during the recess, but he understood that some arrangements would be made to provide lunch. He hoped that members would endeavour to make the best of things during the work of renovation. It is understood that the plans provide for the demolition of all the ground floor part of the buildings, in which are located the kitchen, store rooms and offices and dining rooms, popularly known as Bellamy’s.