"VERY EXPENSIVE"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 128, 27 November 1923, Page 6

"VERY EXPENSIVE"

PRIVATE ARCHITECTS' FEES

IN ERECTION OF NEW SCHOOLS.

' In future all plans and specifications for the erection of new schools and the extension of existing schools are to be prepared by the officers of the Public Works Department, in consultation with ths officers of the Education Department; and the supervision of the work will be carried out by officers of the Public Works Department, instead of by. private architects, as has been customary. Information to this effect was received by ths Wellington Technical College Board of Governors . at its meeting last evening.

In a communication to the board, the Director of Education Qdv. J. Caughley) stated: Very large sums are annually being paid as fees to private architects in connection with the erection of.new schools and the extension of existing schools, some of the latter being simple and straightforward in character. For your information, , I may say that, in connection with the secondary and technical school -buildings for which grants have been approved this year, or tvhich are being erected this year, the Government has to pay private architects' fees to the amount of £14,000. This very large sum relates to only eight buildings. For various small additions and alterations, the Department will have to pay additional 'architects' fees amounting to over £4000. This method is very expensive, and the Government cannot see its way to continue it. It has, thereiore, been decided that in future all plans and specifications will be pre?ared by the officers of the Public Works )epartment, in consultation with the officers of the Education Department, and that the supervision will be carried out by the officer* of the Public Works Department. I have therefore to ask you to be good enough, where grants have .not yet been approved, not to enter into any further engagement with a private architect in this •■ connection, cither for the purpose of getting working plans, etc., prepared, if sketch plans have been already supplied to you, or by asking for sketch plans where new proposals are contemplated. Under the new arrangement, every opportunity will be "iven to governing bodies to consult architects and other officers of both Departments in order that they may express their views, and take- part in the general planning of the buildings. men new proposals arc to' be brought before the Department, the following information should be forwarded ■—

1. A statement showing fully the necessity for the work; in the case of additions to existing buildings this should include: (a) a list showing the number of pupils m each form or class in each year; (b) the size of each classroom and the form occupying it. (This may be best shown a rough plan of the present buildings.) (c) The number of fulltime and part-time teachers on the staff. 2. The board should generally indicate how, in its opinion, the new accommodation can best be provided. If, on the information supplied, the Department j 8 <,f the opinion that the accommodation is required at as early a date as possible, a responsible officer will tisit the school and "confer with the ■°?i li. Bf° re 6 Wolk is Proceeded with the plans will be submitted to the board for its final approval The board decided to refer the letter to the Buildfng Committee for consideration, with special reference to the position in regard to the new Technical College Building.