NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19828, 30 April 1927, Page 6

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

PARLIAMENT HOUSE RENOVATING THE WOODEN WING It is apparent from the extent of tho improvements being made to the old wooden wing of Parliament House that it is to do service for a few years yet before being demolished to make way for the completion of the new building. Extensive painting operations were carried out on the exterior prior to the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, and now several of the Ministerial suites are being renovated, re-papered, and generally re-furnished. The rooms of the Minister of Internal Affairs and tho Minister of Education have already been completed, and a start has now been made upon the suite of the Minister of Agriculture. Tho messengers* room at the Bowen street entrance has also been re-decorated. As a matter of convenience in passing from the new building to the upper floor of the old wing a new stairway is being constructed giving direct access for ono to the other. As stated by the of Public Works towards tho end of the last session of Parliament, it has been decided to defer the completion of the modern block, as it is considered the timbers of the old building are sufficiently good to survive a few more years’ wear. Mr Williams stated that he did not feel justified in discarding the wooden building just yet, for an expensive new wing. The estimate given for the present renovations, including the painting of the roof and a few structural alterations, was originally given at £2’oo. In addition to the painting-up of the old building, the corridors in the new building, which are finished in plain white plaster, are being decorated with cream tints In comparison with tho modem decorations in the newly renovated Ministerial suites, the corridors of the wooden block present a somewhat incongruous appearance Visitors to the Parliament Buildings must bo impressed with the striking design of the wallpapers, which were selected by Ladv Plunket shortly before the building ceased duty as Government House after Parliamentary Buildings fire in 2907, and became part of the legislative halls. The design of the papers is large and now somewhat faded, and is in nc respect in keeping with modern ideaof wall decoration. These corridors have not been “done up” in twentv years • It is generally assumed by those about the buildings that tho recent improvements have deferred the completion of the new permanent building bv I about ten years.