NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 8940, 14 December 1907, Page 5

NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE

PREMIER

CHANGE OF SITE SUGGESTED.

{By Telegraph — Pnsa Association.)

DUNEDIN, Last Night.

During an after luncheon "speech at the Harbour Board's excursion, today, Sir J. G. Ward made an important announcement in connection with the recent destruction by lire of Parliamentary Buildings.

After stating that it had been particularly gratifying to himself and his colleagues to have received numerous telegrams and cablegrams from all over the world expressing regret at the demolition of the old buildings, he went on to say that one of the troubles the Government had to face now was to provide proper housing for the present and future representatives of the people. The matter was one that probably Parliament would have, to be consulted ou, on one material point at anyrate. Owing to the fire the question of erecting a suitable building for both branches of the Legislature had arisen, and it had to be borne in mind that he had to provide for needs of the next 150 or 200 years. The wisdom of Parliament would have to be applied to this question after the Government had made suggestions. He thought it would be well to make a change of site. Those who knew Wellington knew the magnificent piece of ground on which Government House stands.

Subject to the opinion of his Excellency, who had ever been most courteous and ready in meeting the wishes of the Government and country, he believed that they would be able to avail themselves of the large area of laud on which Government House stands. It was an area more suited for Parliament than for Government House, and the time was opportune to take advantage of this and build something that would be for all time a credit to the Dominion.