CLERKS OF WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 July 1939, Page 7

CLERKS OF WORK

SERVICES PRAISED

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT

Guest speakers praised highly the services of clerks of work on building construction jobs last night at the second annual smoke concert held by the New Zealand Clerks of Work Association. Those who joined in these tributes included the Minister of Education and Health (the Hon. P. Fraser). Representatives of the architects and the building trades generally attended, there being nearly 100 present.

Mr. Fraser said he had come into contact with a considerable number of clerks of work and had formed a high opinion of them. They were the friends of the good contractors and were welcomed by them. Just as the architects, builders, engineers, surveyors, and artisans had an important part to play, so too had the clerks of work, who really established the bond of confidence between the parties engaged in construction work and saw to it that everything was fair and above board. The average contractor wanted to do a good job, as did t».e average worker. The clerks of work wanted to see that they did this, too. Personally, he thought they were entitled to every respect and every recognition. The president, Mr. A. Cook, who presided, referred to the increased membership of the association. Modern building practice, he said, called for clerks of work having a high degree of technical knowledge and also a fair amount of common sense and tact. THE GENERALS. In proposing the toast of the architects and engineers, Mr. J. Hallewell said that the architects were really the generals of the army of men engaged in building construction. That work was onerous and trying; if they made mistakes those mistakes lived after them. He had always found the architects real good fellows. Replying to the toast Mr. F. E. Greenish said that, if the architects were the generals on the actual job, the clerk of works was the architects' chief staff officer. Mr. Hallewell had referred to the importance of good work by the architect, but if the result was to be satisfactory the clerk of works also had an important role to fulfil. In that connection the architects appreciated the work being done by the clerks of works and realised the value of the association. Mr. William E. Lavelle, who proposed the toast of the Clerk of Works* Association, said that the association was welcomed by all concerned with the problems of the building industry. The formation of the association had resulted in a standard being established, and the result was that the architects, who were the people primarily concerned with clerks of works, knew that if a man under consideration for the post of clerk of works was a member of the association he was the right man. His experience and that of his colleagues was that the members of the association were filling the bill very well indeed.

Mr. E. Dymock, who responded, thanked the representatives of the architects and the building trades and their organisations for the assistance they had given the clerks of works.

Proposing the toast of the contractors and sub-contoractors, Mr. H. C. Parsons said that sometimes the contractors called the clerks of works names, but that really did not matter. The contractors usually were glad to have them on the job.

Mr. J. A. Scarff, who replied on behalf of the contractors, said there was

no doubt that builders received a great deal of assistance from clerks of works. He referred to the happy relations which existed between them. Mr. A. Mack replied on behalf of the subcontractors.

Among other toasts honoured were "Builders' Merchants," proposed by Mr. A. J. Cathie and replied to by Mr. F. C. Holmes, and "Building Trades' Unions," proposed by Mr. M. Ronan.

An entertaining programme of humorous stories and musical and vocal items, was presented.