UMPIRE ON SPOT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 103, 4 May 1931, Page 10

UMPIRE ON SPOT

CLERK OF WORKS

TO ENSURE GOOD BUILDING

NEW STATUS SOUGHT

What is a clerk of works? He may I be defined as one who supervises a work of construction on behalf of interests other than the contractor. In New Zealand the clerk of works is generally nominated by tho architect, and, like the architect, is paid by the owner (the person or,persons for whom the work is being done). What purpose does a clerk of works servo? This question may be various-, ly answered. It would bo answered, in part, by saying that a clerk of works is ,111 independent check on the quality of tho materials and workmanship supplied by tho contractor. That is to say, ho is independent of the contractor in that ho is not paid by the contractor.

NOT IN CONTRACTOR'S EMPLOY.

An essential part of the qualification for admittance as a member of the Clerks of Works Association (Incorporated) of" Great Britain is that the applicant for membership has for three previous years acted as., a clerk of works, "not being employed or partially employed in any trade by any builder or contractor." An architect, of course, is himself an owner-paid professional man acting as a check on the contractor. But the architect is not continuously on the work. The clerk of works is. He is the man on the spot. If the question be asked whether a check, in the form of a man on the spot, is necessary as a guarantee of good work, it may be replied that the custom is one of the oldest, and would not persist unless it filled a purpose. If it bo further asked whether the job of clerk of works is worthy of a professional standing, and of an association with corporate status, the answer is the already-mentioned Incorporated Clerks of Works Association of Great Britain.

QUICKENED BY EARTHQUAKE FACTOR.

The long-standing desire of a number o£ clerks of .works in New Zealand to become enrolled in a, New Zealand organisation similar to the British one (of which some of them arc already members) has been quickened by Now, Zealand's earthquake losses, and the moral those losses preach— that jiot only the architectural work on a building, but all the material going into it and all tho workmanship are of vital importance to public safety. There is a duty to the owner and a duty to tho public. Recent events hare thus brought to a head the movement to create in this country a New Zealand Incorporated Clerks of Works Association, in furtherance of which a meeting was recently held in Wellington, attended by tho following: Messrs. Bertinshaw (in the chair), Martyn Roberts, Smart, Phillips, Maule, Chant, Maidens, Lester, Wood, and Dyniock. Other clerks of works who were unable to be present, but who sent good wishes, were Messrs. Drummond, Campbell, Colquhoun, Johnston, Cook, M'Keon, Parker, On the motion of Mr. Wood, seconded by Mr. Dymock, it was unanimously decided to form a Clerks of Works Association, to apply for incorporation thereof, and to adopt articles of association based on those of the British body, with certain alterations. Tho following officers wero elected: President, Mr. G. Bertinshaw; vice-president, Mr. H. W. Martyn Roberts; secretary, Mr. a. Smart.

ROOM FOR GENERAL ' FOREMEN.

Qualification for membership requires that the applicant must have boon employed solely as a clerk of works for the three previous years (as mentioned above) "or for five consecutive years at some former period." An important feature is that thero is provision for the admittance not only of members but of associate members. Tho associate member does not require to have been solely a clerk of -works (that is, not in receipt of contractors' pay) for three years. A general foreman may be admitted as an associate member. Thus the associates will include men in process of evolution from foremanship to clerkship of _ The executive of the new body, which has authorised the above statements, desires to add its confidence that the association has very definite and important work to do, and its hope that the professions and tho public will recogniso its merits.