ARCHITECTS AND MONOPOLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 4

ARCHITECTS AND MONOPOLY.

Sir,—l earnestly hopo that tho Architects' Bill at present before Parliamsnt will not bo passed this session, so as to onablo electors a chance to becomo acquainted -with its provisions. lam in-, formed that it proposes that a building cannot be crectcd unless a member of the Architects' Association draws tho plans. If this be so, I need hardly remark that this will pass another burden on to the uhfortunato general public. I havo had several homes erected satisfactorily by buildors or carpontors, and in no caso have I consulted-an architect. Many, of my friends have likewise had homes built, and havo deliberately avoided unnecessary architects and their peculiar ways.

Some years ago I was astonished on being informed by an architect that his profession was not so dignified nor so lionost as it ought t6 be. He assured me that some of them took a, "commission" (blackmail would probably bo a true term) of 2.} per cent. 1 from the builders in addition to tho 5 per cent, from his client. Some of them would not take money, but did not object to a valuable present to themselves or their wives. Then again some got a further commission or present from somo of the tradespeople who supplied material.

This, sir, was astonishing enough, but it was mild compared to a statement made to me to-day by a builder. He said that ho had erected about a hundred houses in and about Wellington and in only 0110 ease did lie not pay tlie architect this secret commission of 2J per cent. Further, he stated it had to be paid before he got tho plans I If my informants are correct, it simply means that when a builder contracts to build a liouso he has to add 2i per cent to his price to enablo him to pass this amount over to tho architect, who, in this underhand way obtains a sum of monev unknown to his employer, and to which ho is in no way entitled, for ho woidd charge 7A per cent in tho first place in a straightforward way. And in most cases his unfortunate employer has to start in his now home with a leonsiderable mortgage which it may take him years, or all his life, to ■pay off!

I hope that, if this precious measure is passed this session, it will contain a clauso providing that, if an architect accepts a payment or other present' in addition to his recognised fee, that suelj an act bo considered a plain unvarnished theft, and bo punished as such.— I am, etc.,

1 . NO MONOPOLY. Wellington, August 11, 1913.