INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 8

INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the council of the New Zealand Institute of Architects states that the membership consists of 136" Fellows and 179 Associates, a total of 315. During the year the chief duties of the | council have been the classification of new members registered by the board and the preparation of new regulations. For the purpose of framing regulations a special committee was set up consisting of Mr W. C. Chatfield, Mr A. Atkins, Mr R. F. Bacon, and Mr W. BeauchampPlatts. This committe performed its arduous duties very thoroughly, and a perusal of the regulations shows the great care and forethought the 1 committee displayed in safeguarding the welfare of the institute and its members. The draft regulations as finally passed by the general meeting held on August 31 last were approved by the Govcfrnor-in-Councii without a single alteration. The reports of the several district branches show that steady progress has been made during the year. Owing to the fact that the regulations provide that the "annual meeting" is the-annual meeting of the council, and not an annual general meeting of members, the district branches assume a more important and useful character than in the past. Town planning and other questions of interest to architects have in a measure been obliged to give way matters of more pressing and immediate importance to the institute. The council, trusts that with the successful termination of the war. and the return to normal conditions, so earnestly hoped for by the jvhole nation, the energies of each succeeding council will be directed, in a greater measure as years go on, towards the advancement of town planning and other matters bearing upon the welfare of the country and its architecture. The council has on every brought to its notice enquired into the conditions of architectural competitions, and where occasion required has exercised its fullest powers to induce promoters to adopt the gazetted regulations. Realising the very great importance of ensuring that in future all architects adniitted to the institute should be well educated, the council gave a great amount of care and consideration to the ►question of an educational scheme, and of the examinations to which that scheme leads. The facilities for education are, however, so different in each centre that, while the council prepares the scheme of education, it cannot lay down hard and fast rules' of carrying it out. The work of encouraging and developing and carrying out the scheme must be left in the hands of the various branches and individual members of those branches. "The council sincerely hopes that in the near future one of the university colleges of New Zealand will see its way to establish a Chair of Architecture, with a full and complete course of study, enabling students to reach the degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture, as set forth in the "University Calendar."

The expenses of the year have been very heavy, and the council has, of necessity, incurred heavy liabilities agamst the coming year's revenue by way of law costs, printing of regulations, forms, appendices, and new certificates of membership. The question of travelling expenses of members of the council will require careful consideration so that no district will suffer disfranchisement for, want of adequate representation. The. question has been carefully considered by the officials best qualified to form an estimate, and a proposal will in all probability be presented for the purpose of authorising the transit charges only of one councillor from each district branch, and in order that each branch shall have its full representation the regulations provide that absent councillors may vote by proxy.

PAYMENT ON CONTRACTS.

AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 1. At the Architects' Conference today, a complaint was made by the Master Builders' Federation that the architects were adhering too rigorously to the conditions of withholding the final payment on contracts for the full period of 90 days for small jobs. It was urged by the conference that the size and nature of the work was immaterial, but the principle involved was most important. A resolution was passed, declining the request for a modification of the conditions.