BUILDING THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13421, 7 July 1911, Page 4

BUILDING THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

Elarokate forms and ceremonies are being observed by tho Commonwealth Homo Affairs Department in connection with the planning of the Federal capital. Last week a formal letter from the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives readied tho Minister of Homo Affairs, setting out in writing (heir joint agreement that the heads of the Parliamentary departments would confer with Home Affairs officers, “to collect any information that may be useful, and to make such suggestions as may occur to them in regard to the accommodation neeessai’y for the proper occupation of the new Parliament House.” ilic construction of a temporary railway is regarded as the first work necessary at the capital site. The Minister for Home. Affairs last week announced that his officers were preparing a special report on the cost of such a line, winch -was needed for the transport of material to be used iu tho building of the city. At present, the material being used was being taken from Qucanbcyan by drays and lorries, assisted h- a 60-80 horsepower motor traction waggon, which he had obtained in Australia at a cost of .£llOO. Very shortly, remarked the Minister, groat quantifies of pipes, cement, timber, and machinery for the construction of drainage systems, weirs, buildings, and sewerage works would have to lie taken to the city’s site, and it was proposed to make a temporary 4ft 8-lin gauge line from Queanbeyan to the centre of the territory. Referring to Air Austin Chapman’s complaint that facilities were not being given to shopkeepers to go to the city site and elsewhere in the territorv and build premises for tho sale of goods to tho workmen and residents, Air O’ATal loy -aid nearly every capital iu the world had allowed vested rights to got a grip on it in its early stages, with the re«ub that it never got out of that grip. Sydney was a standing example. Its people wore now spending millions of pounds to get their streets wider and straightcr. If. he allowed these people to go to the territory and open their shops, he would soon have trouble in shifting them for the good of the city, and politicians would cry out that ho must not interfere with their vested rights. Vested rights were not going to get a standing in the new capital, even if Paul the Apostle were to give certificates to the most saintly men and women in heaven and ask for rights for them. Without vested rights they would build a beautiful citv, with parka, wide street ... boulevard,: (lower garden*. and lakes.