ARCHITECT'S BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 8

ARCHITECT'S BILL.

A CONTENTIOUS CLAUSE. LOCAL BODIES' OBJECTIONS. In > Tuesday's Dominion appeared a Press Association telegram from GhristchuTch recording the local city council's hostility to the proposed New Zealand Institute of Architects' Bill, circulated last session, and which is to be presented to Parliament again this year. Ihe clause to which particular objection is taken is one which' provides that .from two years after the commencement of tho Act i every local authority, trust, etc., which erects or alters any building at a cost ..exceeding £1000 out of funds borrowed or iheld by them, as a public body, shall employ as an architect a person registered under this Act, to design and superintend the erection of the building. The clauso was brought under the notice of eome local body officials yesterday for the purpose of gaining an idea of their views on it. Mr. J. D. Avery, clerk to the Eastbourne Borough Council, stated that he did not think that such a provision would be tolerated by any local body. The larger local bodies may have in their employ officers quite capable of designing some classes of buildings needed, and it seemed to him to be somewhat Arbitrary to have to be compelled to call in an architect to do the work under instruction. Objection- would, in his opinion, be raised against the provision even by the smaller local bodies, as they might grow sufficiently in the future to -warrant the employment of an officer who would be quite competent to design tho structures the borough might need. ■ Ono of the Mayors also expressed himself as opposed to such a restrictive clause. A properly-managed borough, he said, would always see that tho man employed in designing any structure was competent to do 60, and if ho were a permanent officer ho would probably know more about the job, as far as what was needed, than any architect that might be brought in. The clause tended to make tho Institute of Architects a rather close corporation. ..

City Council Opposition. "The BilJ is one that would stultify any local authority that has any building programme at all," said tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) in conversation with ' a Dominion reporter yesterday. "So far as the Wellington City Council is concerned, > we shall oppose the Bill, because it would limit the opportunities of our own officers (more particularly the City ' Engineer) of carrying out city building works. We are of opinion that corporation buildings, even those, costing J6IOOO or more, which, by tho way, is a very small sum -for ths construction of a building, can be as well designed for corporation purposes by our own engineer and his staff as by anyone outside of it. They have designed already the library at Newtown, the Fire Brigade Station, the Thorndon Tramway Olhces, and, in fact, practically all of. our bij* buildings, with the exception of the Towh, Hall. It is the usual custom everywhere to allow municipalities to erect their own buildings with the assistance of'their engineering staffs. This council, and the executive of the Municipal Association, will make representations to the Government in opposition to the Bill." ..

Who May Register. The Bill provides that every person shall be entitled to to registered by tho board or the council as. a member of the Institute who: "(a) Holds some recognised (certificate; "(b) Ha 9 attained the age of 2-1 years, and has for a period of three consecutive ■ years before the commencement of this Act been bona fide engaged in New Zealand as a principal in the exclusivo practice of architecture, and who makes' application for registration to tho board or tho council within six months after the commencement of this Act; "(c) Has attained the .age of twentyfire years, and has been engaged- during a period of not less than seven years before the commencement of this Act in the acquirement of jirofessionai knowledge in architecture, in a manner satisfactory to the board or the council, and who makes application for. registration to the board or the council within six months after such commencement. "(d) Has attained the age of twenty-one years, and has been a pupil or apprentice for a period of not less than three years to an architectural practitioner whose qualifications would entitle him to be a registered member under this Act, and has before the. commencement of this Act had two years', further experience in New Zealand to the Satisfaction of the board or the council, and who makes application for registration to board' or council, within six months after such commencement. "(e)'Has at any time before the commencement of this Act, during a period of three consecutive years,- been engaged in New Zealand, for part of that period in the manner described in paragraph (b) of this section, and 'for the parts thereof in manner described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, and satisfies the board or the council as to his proficiency in the duties of an archv feet, and' who to the board or council within stx months after such commencement.'