THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 5

THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

*— — ASSESSOR'S REPORT. GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT HEADS THE LIST. The special committee set up in Parliament yesterday (o receive the report' and recommendations of Colonel Vernon upon tho designs for the new Parliament Buildiugs met in tho Prime Minister's room' last evouing, Sir Joseph Ward presiding. Thcro wero also present Sir Arthur Guinness, Sir John Findlay, tho Hoiis. 11. M'Kcnzie, ,T. A. Millar, and W. C. P. Carncross, Messrs. \\. F. Massey, and J, Colvin, and Colonel Vernon. Tho Report, Colonel Vernon read tho following report :— "In accordance with instructions, I havo, as tho appointed assessor, examined tho sovoral designs for tho proposed new Parliament Buildings sent in in competition, and havo the honour to submit, as tho result of my investigations, tho following report oad award thereon. Thirty-lures competitors have responded to the invitation, several sending in alternative designs. In all, three hundred and twenty, seven drawings, inciuiung thirteen perspectivc sketches, have been received. .In. all cities tho conditions as regards time lor delivery, anonymity, character of the draughting, and adhcrcuco to tho standard scale have been faithfully observed. A package, containing thirty-three sealed, envelopes, presumably containing tho names and addresses of tho several authors, has been placed for sale keeping, in tho hands of the Under-Secretary for Public Works, to be opened as may bu directed by yourself. It is presumed that all competitors are either architects residing within tho Dominion or members of the Civil Service, and their desigus, therefore, are dealt with in this adjudication. Tho designs submitted have received the closest critical scrutiny, and have been dealt with, and their valuea assessed as in my opinion they more or less meet the requirements, , tho principal of which may bo stated as;— (a) .Design of tho relative positions of chambers and members' lobby; (b) accommodation lor tho convenience of Ministers nnd members; (e) accommodation for and convenience of officials; (d) accommodation lor and convenience ol puljlic; (c) general design of tho library and- it's adjuncts; (f) general design of Bellamy's and adjuncts; (g) internal architectural ell'ect of tho design; (h) architectural de-i sign of tho exterior; (i) compliance with, general conditions as to position on the sito, oost, etc. No single dosigu "cuiitailis. all tho good points,' and several of tho better ones aro defaced by 6erious defects. Again, tho work of adjudication is not mado easier by tho apparent indiffcreuco of some authors to tflo' important question of cost, whoso designs for this rcasdii necessarily lo*o ground. The' author of design marked number 2G, which would, from its merits, have forced itself into tho very front rank, has apparently do-, liberate!}' given away his chance by sul> milting a design involving the sito "of tho present library—on arrangement not permitted by tho conditions. After the fullest consideration I havo selected nine designs as showing, in my opinion, tho most merit under all conditions, and have placed them in tho following order (shown below). The response by the architects of New Zealand to tho invitation of tho Government is a spirited one and tho result must bo gratifying inasmuch as tho architectural skill necessary, for tho designing and erecting of. this important building is demonstrated as being at hand and available. 1 desire to acknowledgo tho excellent facilities afforded me by tho XTnder-Rccrctary for Public Works for scrutinising this largo number of drawings and also the valuable anil willing personal assistance of Mr. W. M'Nainara, of the Public Works Department, in tho large amount of clerical work involved in the. scrutiny."

The Primo Minister suggested that tho 33 sealed letters mentioned bj Colonel Vernon should now bo opened. A Question of Procedure. _Sir Arthur Guinness raised an object tion. Ho contended that, in finally deciding as to which design should be adopt, cd, it would bo very unfair ior Parliament, a committee, or tho executive, to know tho names of the designors. Whoever niado tho selection should 'bo placed in tho'.samo position as Colonel Vernon had been ill making his award upon the designs. Sir Joseph Ward stated that if effect were given to tho suggestion of Sir "Arthur Guinness the result would bo that tho public would be' allowed to assume that tho committee was coing to makn the award, and not Colonel Vcruou, as to who had won these 'prizes. Sir Arthur Guinness said lie merely proposed that the announcement of' tho award should be delayed for a few days until it had been decjded which design, should bo adopted. It only meant postnoning Colonel Vernon's award for a few days. Tho lion. R. M'Kensio remarked that not ono of the designs might prove exactly suitable for the new buildings, and quite possibly none of them would be adopted without modification. In this Vernon concurred. Mr. M'Konzio added that tho question raised by Sir Arthur Guinness had nothing to do with the question .upon which* the committee had met to adjudicate— tho awarding of these "prir.es.

Sir Arthur Guinness paid ho was proposing that the tnvn.nl should not bo (riven effect (o until it had been decided which design should bo adopted. 'Tho committee, in selecting a design, should not know the name ,o| tho designer,., Sir .Joseph Ward pointed out that tho designs would be exposed on tho morrow, and everyone would then know who was rospons.iblo for them. Mr. Frvisor said ho took it that those, outsido tho Cabinet who wore present were there merely to" see the letters opened. They were not a commit too set up by Parliament to deal with the matter. Mr. Masscy asked the Prime Minister what course- he proposed to adopt when tho award had been made. ■ Sir Joseph Ward stated that tho mallei would again eomo before the Executive'.'/ If they were of opinion (hat any design was the best, they would probably recommend its adoption. No doubt*. tho first four plans would receive tho closest consideration. After this prolimiiiarr business was over it would bo tho work of the Executive to consider what was tho host conrs? to follow. They would do this and then consult (ho House.

Sir John Findlay opined that thero was a contract between Hie Government ami I lie successful competitors. The' men who had succeeded were entitled to apply on the following' day for their money. Mr. H. J. H. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) was then instructed to open the scaled letters. Following are I lie first nine names in the, order of the assessor's award;— | The Assessor's Award. 1. (.ClOOfl), John Campbell. F.R.1.8.A„ Government architect, and Claude Paton. 2. (JCSOO), Thos. Turnbull and Son and ,T. S. Seddon (Wellington). :). f.CWO), Wm. H. Gnmmcr (Auckland).' •(. (.00), John Campbell and -Chas. A. Lawrence (Wollinglon). " S.Geo. A. Troup, F.8.1.8.A., and W. Gray Young (Wellington). 6. Henry S. Mcrran and R. A. Owen (Auckland). 7. Hugh C. Grierson (Auckland). 8. Hurst Scager and Hart (Christ-' church). . / D. Fleming Macdoiiald and W. Dunning (Dumxlin). Tlio oilier compelif-ors were:—A. T). Spiers (Picton), li. Ixiweish (Auckland)! Wake and Brnnio (Wellington), ' Beero and Greenish (Wellington), G. A.. Troup and J. Young (Wdlinglon), W. M', Paste (Wellington), Troup. Young. ;111< j Kobb (Wellington), L. D. Coombes (Dun. ediii), F. W. Pot.ro (Dniiedin). ]). ■M. Kean (Wellington), F. Milehvl) and Co! (Wellington), 1). B. Pallerson (Auckland) W. Houlker, jun. (Nelson). Charlosworlh and Cullender (Wellington), 1,. G. West and Sou (Palmer'ston North), G. G, Schwartz (Wellington), 11. ',T. Agcr (Chrislchmch), O'Connor and BartlVy (Auckland), Salmond and .Vanes (Dun- ■ eclin), E. Anscombc (Duncdin), ,T, ■ c Maddison (Christchnrch), 0. A. Jo'i-km! wn (Palmerston North), ,T. Charlosworlh (Wellington). It was decided that the nine designs plaoed first in ordor should be viewed bv tho Committee, at tho Government Buildings, to-day.