Building In Stages ‘Not Racket’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 1

Building In Stages ‘Not Racket’

(From Out Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, March 4.

Building in stages to circumvent State curbs on building schemes worth more than £30,000 could only apply to single-storey structures, the first stage of which would be complete in themselves, said Mr E. V. Dawson, president of the Institute of Architects, yesterday.

Any allowance for vertical extension, he said, would bring a building under the control of the regulations, which require the granting of special authority to proceed and provide for enforced deferments. Mr Dawson was referring to reported loopholes in the regulations and comments by the building programmer, Mr R. F. Paris, on the practice of staged construction. “It is the normal prudent practice to design a building for ease of extension where space exists,” said Mr Dawson. “Members of my institute resent the inference that they are participating in a racket by doing so. “The programmer states that this system is in fact permissible under the regula-

tions. It seems that his reference to it will only succeed in attracting more of those whose activities are being curbed by his operations; “An architect’s integrity is an assential a part of his stock-in-trade. This applies to his dealings with the various authorities with whom he must work as well as to his clients. “The programmer has ample evidence of the willingness of my institute to help him in administering these irksome regulations with equal justice to all who are affected by them,” said Mr Dawson. RESERVED.— The Indecent Publications Tribunal yesterday reserved decision on 13 books submitted for a ruling on whether they are indecent.—(P.A.)