"PUBLIC PAYS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 7

"PUBLIC PAYS."

PROTEST BY ARCHITECTS.

QUALITY OF STATE SERVICE,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Criticism of the amount of architectural work do'ne by the Public Works Department, and of its quality, was made at the annual meeting of the Institute of Architects to-day by the president, Mr. E. R. Wilson. "Notwithstanding our past protests and favourable replies received from Ministers and heads of Departments,"said Mr. Wilson, "the Public Works Department continues to provide throughout the greater part of the Dominion, and on every possible opportunity, the requisite architectural services for schools, hostels and hospital buildings. Those of us who are experienced and who have had opportunities of examining the w6rk, realise its inferior nature £nd its greater cost, and that the public blindly pays the piper.

"With Government Departments holding the reins of finance there is no adequate criticism of such building projects. Public bodies mostly consider compliance with the Government demands and suggestions as 'the line of least resistance and acquiesce. With Ministers usually tn office for but a comparatively short period, the country is gradually drifting into a state of domination by Civil Servants. The position is the more regrettable in such 'bad times as the present."