ARCHITECTS OFFER HELP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 126, 23 February 1944, Page 4

ARCHITECTS OFFER HELP

Government Building INSTITUTE’S ANNUAL MEETING

Now that the war had shifted from New Zealand's shores there was a general feeling among architects, builders, and those in kindred trades that a conference of interested parties should be held to assist the Government in the great works lying ahead, said the president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, Mr. R. G. Taiboys (Wanganui), addressing the annual meeting of the institute in Wellington. Few professions would be called on to play a greater part in the work of reconstruction, said Mr. Taiboys. They desired to assist the Government in the difficult problem of housing, particularly the provision of homes for returned servicemen, and the institute had prepared a scheme which had been submitted to the State department advancing money for this purpose The rehabilitation _ot the btiilding trad? could not be something for the Government alone, for it must be the concern of every profession, every employer, and every worker, undertaken by State and people alike. During the conference the subject or the co-operation of architects with the Government was discussed, and the Ministers of Works, Mr. Semple, and Director of Works, Mr. J. Fletcher, received a deputation headed by the president of the institute. The deputation was assured by the Minister that the Government, in carrying out its future programme involving very extensive building, had no intention of freezing out the private architect. Though most of the urgent, works so far undertaken were of a type not calling for design, and being mainly repetition, the co-operation of Private architects would certainly be needed. Mr. Semple asked if the Institute .of Architects was prepared to appoint someone who could be called into consultation by the Executive Committee of Construction when the experience and knowledge of the, profession would be of value in the discussions, and he was at, once assured by the president- that the conference would immediately ■ appoint its representative. , At a subsequent meeting of the delegates. Mr. H. C. Morton. Wellington, was appointed as th? institute’s representative, with Mr, W. J. McKeon, Wellington. as his deputy. m i The retiring president, Mr. R. G. lalboys. was unanimously reappointed for another year. . ' Mr. Taibays in his address said that a comprehensive report on reconstruction in earthquake zones had been published by the institute, and it might well form the basis of further research. If this report was followed, the national loss caused by recurring earthquakes would be greatly-reduced. There would be better and safer buildings. Discussing the difficult period through which the building industry was passing, Mr. Talbovs described the year as one of false hopes and false starts, fluctuating with the demand made on an impoverished labour and material market.