PARLIAMENT BUILDING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16530, 14 September 1921, Page 2

PARLIAMENT BUILDING.

ECONOMY IN FERNISHIXo. • [From Our Correspondent.} WELLINGTON, September 13. Economy is making itself evident in. the precincts of the new Parliament buildings. AVheu furnishing was originally considered, about £20,000 was mentioned as the figure necessary to equip the national building in a style iu keeping with its permanence and importance, but the actual expenditure is litlio more than one-third of that ium owing to tho many moneysaving devices which have been adopted. A representative of the “ Star ” brought, under tho notice oi' the Hon J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, a statement that one carpet had been provided for tho Speaker’s room, costing £4OO. Tho Minister agreed with rho suggestion that- such expenditure at this juncture lA unwarrantable extravagance. '' In view uf my instructions, I don’t believe it. ' he added. Ihe Minister arranged l hat the Government Architect, Afr Campbell, should submit to the correspondent and hinujelt details of tho fmuishjng expenditure and estimates. This was done, when it appeared that the total outlay on new carpets for the whole building is Only £llOO, and that one exceptionally large room has a carpet costing £6O. Corridors which h&vo :o be provided wich fcpund-deadening material are covered with rubberoid roofing, cheap felt or cccoanut matting. Every piece ot old furniture from the former chambers, lobbies and Ministers’ rooms which is serviceable, though shabby, has been transferred to the new building, with the result, that the former £20,000 estimate, which dwindled to £7OOO as the result of more, economical plans, now stands at £4890. The latter sum ■u’iil completely furnish the new building. It has been necessary to equip forty-five rooms, be. ides lobbies and legislative chambers. “The Furnishing Committee/’ said tho Minister, “ was chary about Completing the furnishing, but 1 took the responsibility of going ahead, because it is needless extravagance keeping a large number of rooms idle in the new building when they could be used, leaving other rooms available for departmental use instead of paying thousands of pounds as rental for private buildings. I don’t think anybody can find fault with this policy. Many thousands of State documents can now be safely stored in I’ai Imment Buildin gs basement.’’ There has not only been economy in furnishing without regard to appearances. but nothing ba* been done in decorating the rooms, which are ail bare plaster. Three Ministers’ suites will be available this session, leaving four suites, the- entrance hall and the Cabinet room to be finished by next