ARCHITECTS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 10

ARCHITECTS CONFER

EVIL OF AMERICAN BOOKS OF PLANS

RESULTS IN ECONOMIC WASTE.

{By Telegraph.—Press Association^

DUNEDIN, This Day.

The annual conference of the New Zealand. Institute of Architects met this morning, Mr. W. M.'Page presiding. A, civic welcome was accorded the delegates, the Deputy-Mayor urging a more intimate relationship between architects and public bodies. He congratulated, the architects upon having a chair established at Auckland University, which meant progress on scientific lines. It was deplorable, he said, that the dollar book of plans from America was so largely influencing the Dominion's domestic architecture.

.. Mr. Page, in reply, stated that it was very difficult to counteract this last influence. He understood that architects were responsible for only 5 per cent, of the houses in New Zealand, which, was a great misfortune and au economic waste to this country. He was convinced that bad planning of houses and other buildings was responsible for the loss of many thousands of pounds annually. '

The annual report and balance-sheet was adopted without discussion. It showed that the institute membership now. totals 316, comprising 105 Fellows and 211 associates.