Council Meeting

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 3, 1 November 1916, Page 774

Council Meeting

A meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Institute of Architects was held on October 3rd, 1916, when the following were present:Mr. W. A. Gumming (president) ; Messrs. Win. C. Chatfield and A. Atkins (past presidents); W. Crichton (vicepresident) ; S. Hurst Seager (Canterbury); E. W. Walden (Otago) ; J. H. McKay, C. A. Lawrence and J. Charlcsworth (Wellington); J. S. Swan (hon. treasurer) ; W. Gray Young (hon. secretary); and the Secretary.

Proxies were lodged by Messrs. P. J. Wales and B. B. Hooper in favour of Mr. Walden. Apologies for non-attendance were received and accepted on behalf of Messrs. Hooper, Wales, Clarkson, Hart, Wilson, Goldsboro’ and Allsop.

On the motion of the president the minutes of the previous meeting which had been mimeographed and circulated, were taken as read and confirmed. The minutes of an extraordinary meeting held on the 4th September last, were reported and adopted.

Correspondence. Mr. E. E. Gillman wrote asking the Council to advance him to the rank of Fellow. The secretarywas instructed to reply pointing out that the application must be made through the District Branch to which the applicant belongs. Mr. Gillman was therefore referred to the Auckland branch.

A letter was read from the Minister of Defence agreeing to the Institute’s request to enable student members with the forces to be discharged in England, should they so desire, subject to the consent of the General Officer Commanding the Expeditionary Forces.

Mr. Hooper wrote ashing the Council to set up a special committee to consider present and possible amendments to the Regulations. It was decided to reply that a file was now kept, on which were recorded all suggested amendments to be dealt with at a suitable time. Mr. Hooper was asked to say in what particular direction he wished the Regulations amended.

The Otago district branch wrote suggesting that the Institute should invite the Government to institute a competition for at least the facades of the new Post Office in Dunedin. Some discussion followed, on the grounds that it seemed to be undesirable to ask for a Competition for any one portion of a building. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hurst Seager:—“That the Government be asked to arrange a competition for the new Post Office at Dunedin, in terms of the Institute’s Regulations for Architectural Competition; and that if thought necessary a plan of the office requirements could be attached to and form the basis of the Competition.”

Mr. Glimmer wrote accepting advisory membership of the Education Committee.

A letter was read from Mr. T. 11. White, Opotiki, expressing his thanks and appreciation of the good wishes of the Council on the occasion of his golden wedding. Members on Active Service. The Secretary reported to the Council that Lieutenant V. P. Haughton, New Zealand Field Artillery, a member of the Institute, had been seriously wounded, whilst serving in France. It was resolved that a letter be sent to his father, expressing the sympathy of the Council and hopes for Lieutenant Haughton's speedy recovery.

The Secretary also reported, as killed in action, Major Fleming Ross, son-in-law of Mr. G. G. Schwartz a former Member of Council. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Schwartz and convey to him the sympathy of the Council. Tn connection with Members on active service the Secretary was directed to write to all district branches for the purpose of obtaining a complete list of members for a Roll of Honour, the branch secretaries to be ashed to supply, where possible, the Reinforcement number and regiment and to report any casualties that may come to their knowledge. Conditions of Contract. A memorandum by the president as to the finality of an architect's certificate as set forth in the general conditions of contract was considered. The, question arose out of a case recently heard in the Supreme Court at Auckland in which an employer refused to make the final payment to the contractor in terms of the architect's final certificate.

The president submitted a copy of the written judgment from which it would appear that there can be no finality to any matter which is subsequently liable to arbitration. As the case is of great

importance and interest to all members the judgment was ordered to be printed in the next issue of the Journal. The president also detailed his suggestion for an alteration in Clause 25 which he thought might overcome the difficulty.

As the contractor's case appeared to have been to some extent prejudiced by the fact that the conditions had never been signed, it was resolved on the motion of Mr. Hurst Seager:"That in the opinion of this Council it is the bounden duty of the architect to ensure that the agreement and the conditions of contract are signed by the employer in order that the interests of the contractor may be protected." General. The secretary presented all the certificates of membership duly signed and sealed. These were now to be posted to all members, without delay, save those whose subscriptions were in arrear. Several accounts were passed for payment. As it appeared improbable that, there would be another Council Meeting prior to the Annual Meeting in November, the following Councillors were appointed a Committee to make the necessary arrangements for the election and to draw up the annual report:—The president, Mr. AV. A. dimming, Mr. Chatfield, Mr. Atkins, Mr. Crichton, Mr. W. Gray Young.

Mr. Frank Peck, F.R.T.8.A., who was conditionally admitted at the last meeting, sent in his application form and fees. The form was then signed by the president on behalf of the Council.

Applications for membership from the following were considered: —Mr. C. E. Harris, Christchurch; Mr. H. L. Massey, Auckland; and Mr. E. Phillips, Auckland. All these applications being in order the applications were duly admitted.