ARCHITECTS BILL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 25 October 1930, Page 9

ARCHITECTS BILL

OPPOSITION IN HOUSE

MEASURE WITHDRAWN

Strong opposition from, all sides of the House of Representatives to-day resulted in the withdrawing of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Amendment Bill by its sponsor, Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) during the debate on the motion for committal. Mr. Wright said that, if the Bill were passed, it would prevent any person not a member of the Architects' Institute from using the title "architect" in connection with his profession. The Bill had been carefully considered by the Education Committee, which had inserted a proviso excluding any person who had been practising for not less than three' years immediately preceding the passing of the Act. The Leader of' tho Labour Parly (Mr., H. E. Holland) said that he had beon informed by several architects in different parts of tho Dominion that the Bill would take away their livelihood. The Leader of tho Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said the Bill would be an expensive luxury for many struggling architects. Ho would not oppose the' Bill if he' received an assurance that the causes of the objections which had boen offered to the measure had been removed. Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South) said tho Bill was by no means an innocent one, and he had been asked to oppose it strenuously. The Bill would mean that a builder would not bo allowed to draw tho plans for a four-roomed cottage. : The Minister of Labour (tho Hon. £>. G. South) said he wanted an assurance that architects who had been employod by local bodies and education boards should be allowed to become registered. Mr. Wright said that in view of the opposition he would withdraw the Bill, although ho wished to state that the contention that builders would be barred was wrong.