INTERESTING TO ARCHITECTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 7

INTERESTING TO ARCHITECTS

s CASE IN SUPREME COURT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, July 30. 'An important case affecting architects who carry out contracts themselves by day labour came before Mr. Justice Denniston in Banco to-day on the hearing of an application by Hugh Robinson Hamilton, directing the Board of Now Zealand Institute of Architects to register hiin. Mr. Beswick appeared for the Board of the New, Zealand Institute of Architects, and Mr. Salter for the applicant. Mr. Beswick raised a preliminary point that the appeal was not laid within tho period prescribed by statute, namely, fourteen days after final determination. Mr. Salter contended that final determination was on March 8, 1910, when, after being asked t<j reconsider its decision, communicated on October 9,-1914, the board wrote that it had nothing to admit to its" letter of October. It was stated that the application had been refused because the applicant was in partnership with a builder, and reference was made to Mr. Justice Chapman's decision in Leaper v. the'NeW; Zealand Institute of Architects, in'which Ilis Honour held that Leaper had simply added the trado of building contractor to that of -architect. Mr. Salter cited cases on the question of compliance with tho statutory requirements as to time. Hb Honour expressed tlie -opinion tliat_ the institute s defence was ex-r ceedingly shabby. It had taken an entirely unsound objection to the applicant. Judging from, papers connected with the case, if the .applicant had been allowed to. appeal, it seemed clear that ho would have succeeded. It was admitted that the decision of tho institute ill'the matter, was unsound. "It is an exceedingly shabby transaction," His Honour. continued; "you would have thought people in their position, exercising a public duty and a 1 body which is dealing with the rights, of parties, would have been only too glad to have seen their way to allow this," Mr. Beswick said'ho only appeared in the matter as instructed by another firm, and desired to say that he entirely shared His Honour's views iii the Nnatter.. He (counsel) had no option. His Honour: All I can say is that it is an exceedingly shabby proceeding, and so shabby that it ought to be rectified. '

Mr. Beswiclc said that he would communicate His Honour's opinions to his (counsel's) principals. Mr. Salter: submitted-that the_ question was, "Has the board really judicially considered the matter?" His Honour said that there might be some ground, as suggested by counsel, for taking stops to set aside the board's decision. His Honour ordered the mattor to stand over.