NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3338, 3 October 1911, Page 7

NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

THE PLANS ON SHOWA DIVERSITY OF DESIGNS. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. Most of the members of Parliament who were in town to-day, spent an hour or two looking at the competitive designs for the n,ew . Parlianientiary Buildings, which were set out for exhibition in the Sydney Street school room. Several of the,competitors were also there to see what their rivals had done. Their thirty-three designs comprise more than 160 large drawings, and the hall was not large enough to conveniently them all. Sttill less was rit possible for the people to thoroughly examine them in the time at their disposal. _ The members enjoyed themselves gazing at the magnificent domes which an appreciative country may build for them to legislate in. Most of the designs have domes, and all hut two, are in one or another variety of the renaissance styles. The exceptions arc a fine Gothic design by Messrs Troup and Vany, of Wellington, and another of less, importance. A considerable number of the competitors have gone outside the cost limit (£IIO,OOO for the first portion., and £300,000 for the whole building), and it has been suggested that in order to check the estimates of the competitors, a first-class builder or other expert should make a thorough examination of all designs that are in the running, and estimate the cost in every case. Some members of Parliament express pleasure in the success of the Government architect, Mr John Campbell, who, ..in co-operation with different assistants, has been awarded the first and fourth prizes. Such success is regarded by these members in the light of compensation for the unfavorable criticism to which he was subjected in connection with his design for Government House. Others, while not disputing the merit of either of his prize-winning designs, and while recognising that he must have put in a vast amount of work which all had to be done out of office hours, are strongly of opinion that with •the special advantages inseparable from his position he ought not to have been authorised to compete on the same terms as other architects. This view is certain to be expressed when the House has an opportunity of discussing the whole matter, and it is likely that the criticism! will not all come from tliei Opposition benches. Pressmen who have looked at the plans are pleased to see that all the competitors (doubtless in compliance with the conditions) have specially allowed them ample space for their work, but in .a. number of cases the accommodation is arranged very inconveniently. Even high placed designs err in this way, and if the requirements of other portions of the Ho 1 use are not more appropriately met there will be a good deal of re-arrangement to be effected if certain plans are adopted' by the Government. ' It is, of course, open to the Government to choose any of the thirtythree designs.