WANTED-A CAPITAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9319, 20 August 1908, Page 2

WANTED-A CAPITAL.

"A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY." A LEGISLATOR'S VIEWS. [From Our Corresfondent.] WELLINGTON, August 19. In reference to the question of the new Parliament Buildings and the capital city of the dominion, Mr George Laurenson, member for Lytteltori, who has taken an active part in advocating that the time has now arrived for altering tHe site of the official city of the dominion, had some interesting remarks made to a "Star" representative to-night. ' In the first place, Mr Laurenson pointed out that there were very few nations which placed their capital oh, the seaboard, and in this connection it was only necessary to. remember the positions of London, Berlin, Paris and Washington. . The danger bf . placing the capital city where it would, be exposed to the bombardment, of any stray cruiser has always been recognised by competent authorities as a question of very serious importance, and this phase of the capital question, in Mr Laurenson's opinion, is likely to exercise the minds of all those interested in the matter. , Again, - in the case of Wellington, the room for expansion has been gradually decreasing, with the result that, land already, stands at a fabulous, price, and rents have increased out of all proportion to the earnings of < the people who have to pay them. This, again, reacted on th© State by compelling the Government to pay higher wages to public servants to enable them to cope with-the excessive cost of living in Wellington. "What a large number of us propose," said Mr Laurenson, " is that the Government should take advantage of this unique opportunity for selecting a site inland from the sea, either in the North or South Island, and secure conic 5000 or 10,000 acres of land. An area of 610 acres (a square mile) could ( be laid out as a site for the future capital of New Zealand, all the sections could be leased on Glasgow leases, which would secure, to tenants .the value of all improvements effected, as well as secure to the State the growing value of the land in the new capital. 5 ' " Within a year of its establishment," continued the member for Lyttelton, " the new city would have a population of some 10,000. . It would be laid out upon the most approved modern and hygienic principles, and it would be made one of the most beautiful cities iv the world." "What of the cost -of the undertaking?" " The cost of laying out the new city, allowing for drainage, electric lighting, roading, and making of parks, would not exceed in the first instance more than £900,000. This computation is. of course, exclusive of the cost of Parliament Buildings ? and new department head offices, which it is at present proposed to erect in Wellington. These are not included in the estimate, as they must be provided for in any case at the rate of 4 per cent. The above sum would mean a yearly charge to the country of £36,000. As against this we have the lands of all the sites which will be vacated in Wellington, by a change of capital, besides the rents of the business places, offices and residential areas in the new capital, and the rental from the market gardens and small farms which would surround the city, and would not be required for extension purposes for many years to come. The 1 different sources of income would produce more than enough to defray the cost of interest. In the course of a generation the revenue would not only yield a return of the interest and the upkeeping q{ the city, but would suffice to defray the cost of the -government of the whole of NewZealand." " We can form a rough estimate of what that sum would amount to in the course of a few generations when we note the fact that the ground rents of the city of Wellington already amoivfit to nearly three-quarters of a million per year." Referring to the argument that Wellington would suffer by the removal of the capital, Mr Laurenson pointed out I that the total number of people who would leave the Empire dity would probably, not exceed 9000, as against the fact that the Main Trunk line now as completed will mean a large increase in the business prosperity of the city. Likewise, the taking over of the Manawatu railway, in the member for Lyttelton's opinion, would mean additional prosperity concentrating on Wellington. Further than that, there remained the fact that the Wellington Harbour Board proposed spending a million of money in the course of the next year or two, so that there was no need to fear that Wellington would suffer as a result of any change in the capital site. As the commercial centre of New Zealand, Wellington must at all times have a great advantage over other parts of the dominion. "It is significant," added Mr Laurenson, ' ' that when a division was taken a few weeks ago the majority against the proposal to remove the capital was only fifteen out of seventy members. In addition to the Radical element who voted for the proposal there were several strong OppositionistSj including Messrs Herries, Reed, Rhodes and Allon. Every member of the House should recognise what a magnificent investment it would be for the dominion to take advantage of the present opportunity. It is sincerely to be hoped that before it is too late the representatives of the people will yet rise to the occasion and do something which will prove a lasting boon to gen< eratious yet unborn/ '