ARCHITECTS' PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 10

ARCHITECTS' PROTEST

WORK IN CONNECTION WITH

PUBLIC BODIES.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

At the architects' conference Mr. Wales (Dunedin) asked the president what was the position with regard to the proposed memorial to; the Government protesting against all architectural work in connection with our public schools, etc., being done solely in the Public Worke Department.

The president said that a tentative memorial had^been drafted by the Executive Council and circulated to branches, most of which had approved of it. Canterbury, however, had urged that'the matter should be held over till approved at the annual conference of the council, and the Otago branch had also raised some objection to it.

Mr. Wales urged that the memorial ought to be completed and sent forward without delay, and Mr.?F. E. Greenish (Auckland) strongly supported this view. OtheT members critieis-. Ed the action of the Health Department" in circularising hospital boards throughout the country and quoting "ridiculously low" architects' fees for work done in the Public Works Department. The president said that in the circular referred to hospital boards were informed that if the work was done in the Public Works Department the cost of architectural services in connection with a building costng £18,130 would be only £.121 instead of 6* per cent, on £18,130, the recognised architect's fee/ ■ - ■ • • Mr. Hurst Seagar (Christchurch) moved to substitute for the Canterbury branch motion on the agenda paper, "That the proposed memorial, to members of Parliament be held over until it has been approved by the annual conference of the council," the following, "That the Executive Council, having received the reports from the different branches on the memorial, be instructed to redraft the same and send it forward at the earliest opportunity." The president said that if it was the wish of the conference the executive would deal with the matter forthwith. Mr. Seagar's resolution was carried unanimously. *