Architect Says Work Done In Own Time

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30809, 22 July 1965, Page 3

Architect Says Work Done In Own Time

(Net* Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 21. Harry Leo Symmans, aged 38, chief architect of the Wellington Education Board, said he had done planning for a district high school at Picton in his “own time,” the Supreme Court was told today.

Symmans is charged with two offences under the Secret Commissions Act, 1910. The first count alleges that Symmans. being an agent of the Wellington Education Board, “corruptly accepted a consideration as a reward for doing an act in relation to his principal’s affairs or business”—that he accepted from Philip Randal Jackson £6BO 18s as a reward for preparing working drawings, specifications and a schedule of quantities of a new district high school at Picton which was being designed by Jackson for the Wellington Education Board. The second count alleges that Symmans, being an agent of the Wellington Education Board, presented to the board an account from Philip Randal Jackson for £756 10s which omitted to say that a percentage of that amount had been agreed to be given by Jackson to Symmans in relation to the matters referred to in the account. Crown evidence ended today. Mr W. R. Birks, with him Mr M. B. Horton, appears for the Crown, and Mr G. C. Kent for Symmans. Mr Justice Hutchison presides. Mr Birks, in his opening address on Tuesday, said Symmans (as chief architect of the Wellington Education Board) had the duty of deciding whether there was so much architectural work in hand that some had to be let out to private architects. The Crown alleges Symmans had decided his own staff was unable to do a job, had recommended a private architect to his employer and had set about doing the job himself. The prosecution alleged Symmans had got the outside architect nominated by him. and who had taken no part in the preparation of the work, to put in a bill for the work. BOARD CHAIRMAN Evidence by Stanley Clarence Hyndman was read to the Court today after a doctor had testified it would not be satisfactory for Hyndman to leave home.

Hyndman said he was elected chairman of the Wellington Education Board in 1950 and served as chairman for 14 years. “1 have no recollection whatever of Mr Symmans asking for permission to do work on the plans for the Picton District High School for any other person,” Hyndman testified. Hyndman said lie had had a good deal to do with Symmans and had the utmost confidence in him. He had found him “a dedicated person to his work.” In 1962, there was • lot of building going on. The Education Board was having great difficulties in getting ground works done. Hyndman agreed in his testimony that there would be hold-ups because the board could not get plans prepared. The evidence of DetectiveSergeant A. H. Hart, who could not attend the hearing because of illness, was also read to the Court. In a written statement. Symmans had said he first met Philip Jackson when Jackson came into his office Jackson had told him he was a private architect and

was interested in undertaking any work for which the board required private consultants. STATEMENT Symmans. in the alleged statement, had said the Picton District High School project appeared upon the Education Board's building programme as a high priority job and he (Symmans) had recommended design work on the project be handled by private consultants. In the statement, Symmans had said he had known that the only way tn have the groundwork planning (for the Picton District High School) at the right time was to do it himself. He (Symmans) had put it to Jackson that, subject to the concurrence of his (Symmans s) principals, he would do the work for him. Symmans, according to the alleged statement, had said he had discussed this with the secretary-manager of the board and with Mr Hyndman (the chairman) and they had agreed to his proposal. He had stated he had carried out the work in his own tine. The hearing is continuing.