ARCHITECTS' FEES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 149, 25 June 1943, Page 4

ARCHITECTS' FEES

HOSPITAL HISTORY The wording of a clause of the report of the finance committee to the Wellington Hospital Board last night that the claim of the Australian firm, of Messrs. Stephenson and Turner, for the balance of fees outstanding (£lsoo> and travelling expenses (£247) in connection with the abandoned Centenary block should be passed for "payment, subject to the accounts being found in order," gave rise to some discussion. Why, asked Mr. H. F. Toogood, was the board asked to pass accounts for payment before it was clear that they were in order, and unless members were aware of all the conditions under which the architects were engaged? The account was part of an account for £19,171 in respect of "Scheme No. 11" —abandoned —but members did not know what were the percentages agreed upon or how they were worked out. The chairman, Mr. F. Castle: On the completed plans, probably. Mr. Toogood thought not, but on completed work, plus travelling expenses. However, he did not know, nor did other members, and they were entitled to full information as to the legal and moral obligations. Mr. Castle said that he had no objection to the clause going back to ascertain in detail the legal and moral obligations of the board. He had no thought that the accounts were not in order, but had himself suggested the safeguarding words because the matter went back to 1936 and nobody could carry all the figures in his head. The past board had undertaken to honour its obligations _,to the architects for work done in" connection with the now abandoned £500,000 buildings, and the account was the wash-up of the work.