AN INSULT TO THE PROFESSION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 6

AN INSULT TO THE PROFESSION.

AN UNSATISFACTORY ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION.

(By Telccrarh—Special Correspondent.) Christoliufoh, January 27.

The correspondent or Tni; 'Dominion who wrote tho other day on architectural competitions, and other architects, will bo interested in the action of the Christchureh branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, which mot .yesterday for the consideration of the conditions of a competition issued' by ilio South Canterbury Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board for competitive designs for an old men's home to bo erected at Timaru.. The conditions issued by tho -board were considered, to be tho most extraordinary yet issued. They gave no information as to what the board required, nor a plan of the site. It simply stated "that tho secretary of the board will supply a general idea of requirements, and a general idea of the site and floor space to be covered. Tho cost is to be £3000 or under, and the Inspector-General of Hospitals is to be asked to select one of "the design submitted. The architect of the design selected by the inspector is then to be asked to prepare full plans and specifications for the works to the satisfaction of the inspector acting on behalf of tho board. Tho architect is then to obtain tenders, and if these tenders come within £100 of the architects estimate, and then only, tho architect issio be awarded tho sum of £10 10s., and to have no further claim on the board. It is further stated that should the board wish to purchase other designs they may do so for £5, and they aro to become the - property of the board absolutely. It was pointed out that tho proper remuneration for the work which the board asks to have done is, according to tho New Zealand Institute of Architects'' scale of charges, £75, so that the board is asking architects to do work for which the- ordinary remuneration is £75 on the remote chanco of receiving £10'10s. How remoto tho chanco is is seen by tho clause in which tho board states it shall have absolute power to decide whether the full .plan and .specifications submitted provide for all the requirements of the board, and this even though the board, undertakes only to give a "general idea" of tho requirements. If the board.are of opinion the plans and specifications do not provide for - all their requirements they may require them to be amended or reject such plans and specifications, and if they so reject,- or if the architect should neglect to amend tho same, the architect shall have no claim upon the board for any services rendered by him. No guarantee is given that the architect whoso plans are chosen who has obtained satisfactory tenders, and received his £10 10s, shall be employed by tho board to carry out the Work. ,The board also reserves to itself the right to have any alterations mado, any extra works not contemplated in the original design, carried out without allowing tho architect any extra remuneration, and it further states that should the successful architect.bo employed to carry put the work tho £10 10s. will* bo deducted from his fee. ;■;"

The association resolved: "That the conditions of this competition are most unsatisfactory, and that otic ■ of: the members of tho institntc,mll compote."- , Tho opinion was expressed that theconditions formed the greatest insult, to the architectural profession the- asso-,ciatio.n.-.had jet .seen. _ ,-■' , .'. ~'