EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE DEPRECATED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 33

EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE DEPRECATED.

(Fbom "Oub Own Cobbesiondekt.) WELLINGTON, December 14. Sir Joseph Ward's suggestion about building a new Parliament House on the site of Government House and the demolition of the present Government House and the building of a new one elsewhere does not find favour here. Some local members were interviewed on the-question. Mr Barber wants the new building erected at the Mount Cook site (within bis own constituency), but this is too ridicilous a suggestion to be taken at all seriously. Mr Wilford does not regard the Prime Minister's suggestion favourably. He says it will be quite enough for the country to foot the bill for the new wing now in process of erection and to rebuild that part of the old buildings destroyed by fire. Neither do.es he favour a particularly ornate structure. Parliament should be satisfied with a substantial building, and arrangements should be made to go on with the work at once. The Mount Cook suggestion was, in his opinion", absurd. Mr Fisher suggests a conference of members to settle the whole question. The Dominion states that it is estimated that with the new Parliamentary Buildings, General Post Office, and Public Trust Office in course of erection at the same time the Government will be involved in building in Wellington next year to the extent of £200,000. If it is decided to put in hand the proposed new Railway Station and the addition to the new Drill Hall at Buckle street that sum will easily amount to a quarter of a million sterling. So far aa can be ascertained hers Ministers' losses in connection with the recent fire at Parliament Buildings are not great. Almost everything was taken out of Sir J. G. Ward's room, which fronts the main ; entrance. Messrs Fowlds, M'Gowan, and Millar had shifted to their offices in the Departmental Buildings. Mr Carroll is ! one of the principal losers, as he lost some : valuable Maori curios and' cash, probably £100 worth in all. Dr Findlay loses a number of hia own law and other books, and Mr M'Nab. its already stated, is a loser in the matter of some historical work!.